Name MASLD/MASH—and act on it - The Global Call to Action on MASLD/MASH

Sep 30, 2026

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Editorial urging global health authorities to formally recognize metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), as a priority non-communicable disease (NCD) spectrum. Highlights that MASLD/MASH are widespread, exist on a spectrum, and drive major risks including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Notes the role of UN NCD meetings and a coordinated GMHR roundtable series in building policy momentum.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

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Pages4

Reading Time10 min

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Editorial

Name MASLD/MASH—and act on it

The global call to action on MASLD/MASH

UN NCD high-level meeting and policy momentum

Received: 9 December 2025 Accepted: 9 December 2025 DOI: 10. 1097/HC9 .0000000000000897 EDITORIAL Name MASLD/MASH—and act on it THE GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION ON MASLD/MASH The metabolic health crisis is escalating at a dangerous pace around the world, yet one of its most urgent threats – metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progressive form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)[1] – remains largely invisible in the global health agenda. This silence is not only unacceptable, it is unsustainable. MASLD and MASH are not niche conditions; they are diseases in their own right, with over a quarter of the world’s population living with them, which act asaccelerants of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in a complex interplay of metabolic conditions. But, critically, they are not two separate diseases; MASLD and MASH exist on a spectrum – just as HIV and AIDS do. Ignoring the early stage of this dynamic spectrum (MASLD), while only acknowledging its advanced stage (MASH), is not only clinically misguided but also a profound failure of prevention. If the world is serious about reducing premature death and disability from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), then the World Health Organization (WHO) must formally recognise MASLD/MASH as a priority NCD spectrum, alongside other high prevalence diseases, and include it as such in its agenda. [2] The fourth United Nations (UN) General Assembly High-Level Meeting on NCDs, held on 25th September 2025 in New York City, marked a major step forward in advancing said recognition and inclusion. However, it was also concerning, as the outdated and stigmatising name non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)[3] was July 23, 2025 DRAFT 53. Prevent liver cancer and other liver diseases and reduce mortality through scaling up hepatitis B and C diagnosis and treatment, hepatitis B vaccination, monitoring to detect liver cancer early and improve survival, and prevention, screening and management for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD); August 4, 2025 DRAFT 54. Prevent liver cancer and other liver diseases and reduce mortality through scaling up hepatitis B and C prevention, diagnosis and treatment, hepatitis B vaccination, monitoring to detect liver cancer early and improve survival, as well as strengthening screening and management for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD); September 3, 2025 FINAL DRAFT (leaked) 54. Prevent liver cancer and other liver diseases and reduce mortality through scaling up hepatitis B and C prevention, diagnosis and treatment, hepatitis B vaccination, monitoring to detect liver cancer early and improve survival, as well as strengthening screening and management for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD); FIGURE 1 The evolution of NAFLD’s inclusion in the draft political declaration of the fourth United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases. This paper was jointly developed by Hepatology Communications, JHEP Reports, Annals of Hepatology and jointly published by Wolters Kluwer Heath, Inc, Elsevier BV, Elsevier España S. L. U. The articles are identical except for minor stylistic and spelling differences in keeping with each journal’s style. Either citation can be used when citing this article. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CCBY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Copyright © 2026 The Author(s) . Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. The Global Metabolic Health Roundtable (GMHR) Series: Addressing the Public Health Threat of MASLD/MASH and Other Major Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) was initiated by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) Public Health Liver Group, in partnership with the Healt

FAQs

Why does the editorial argue MASLD/MASH should be recognized as a priority NCD spectrum by WHO?

It states that MASLD/MASH pose an escalating global metabolic health crisis and remain largely invisible in the global health agenda despite widespread prevalence and major downstream risks.

How does the document describe the relationship between MASLD and MASH?

It emphasizes that MASLD and MASH exist on a spectrum, and that ignoring early-stage MASLD while only addressing advanced MASH undermines prevention.

What progress is mentioned regarding UN recognition of MASLD/MASH?

The document notes that the fourth UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September 2025 advanced recognition and inclusion, while also criticizing the outdated and stigmatizing NAFLD naming.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by moss~