Harrow is listed as one of the areas with high risk of liver disease, a new study has found.

A study recently published in the BMJ Gastroenterology showed that a large proportion of the UK population have at least one high-risk factor to develop chronic liver disease.

Dr Laith Al-Rubaiy, a liver specialist at St Mark’s Hospital, led the study as part of a local road show in Brent, Harrow and Ealing, which fed into a national study of more than 2,600 participants with the British Liver Trust.

The three risk factors associated with chronic liver disease are viral hepatitis, alcohol and obesity.

Dr Laith Al-Rubaiy, a liver specialist at St Mark’s Hospital, said: “It is worrying but people can reverse liver damage if it is caught early enough and they adopt healthier lifestyles.

“There has been 400% rise in the liver-related deaths in the past 50 years in the UK and the problem is that areas of high deprivation often go hand-in-hand with poor diet and obesity which contribute to CLD. The study highlights the need for greater awareness and education in our communities.”

The disease can progress to cirrhosis with an increased risk of developing liver cancer and liver failure.

Dr Al-Rubaiy added: “We are hoping to raise public awareness of the importance of liver health and to address the risk factors for liver disease, especially excess alcohol and obesity.”

After previously voicing his concerns about lockdown and the contribution to liver damage, he said: “A common myth is that you have to be an ‘alcoholic’ to damage your liver. The truth is that more than one in five people in the UK currently drink alcohol in way that could harm their liver.

“We are really concerned that this is increasing during lockdown and we are going to be faced with an epidemic of liver disease.

“There are lots of other, much healthier ways, to deal with stress, like taking exercise, having a relaxing bath or listening to your favourite music. Fostering healthier habits for stress management is a much better coping strategy for the long term.”

“We need to change the stigma surrounding alcohol – we need to make it normal to ask for help with alcohol problems, so nobody needs to feel ashamed."