Boosting Activity to Cut Liver Disease in Saudi Arabia

Physical inactivity is fueling a rise in metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease, known as MASLD, worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, even though people are moving more, the condition now affects over 30 % of the population. Researchers set out to see how boosting activity could lower liver fat and ease the future health and money costs tied to MASLD.

The team built a computer model that follows MASLD cases from 2025 to 2045. They imagined three hopeful plans: 10 %, 20 % or 30 % of patients cutting liver fat by at least 30 %. Health gains were measured in disability‑adjusted life years, while money costs used U.S. price data.

If the 10 % plan works, liver deaths could drop by about 4 % to 12 %; cancer cases fall 5 % to 14 %; and severe cirrhosis eases up to 14 %. Health expenses shrink 4 % to 12 %, and DALYs decline 9 % to 24 % across the scenarios. The model also shows the disease will climb from roughly 10 million people in 2025 to 14.3 million by 2045.

These results suggest that encouraging more movement can protect many Saudis from serious liver problems and save the health system money. Policymakers are urged to weave MASLD‑specific goals into national fitness drives and non‑communicable disease plans, helping Saudi Vision 2030 reach its health targets.