As more teens become overweight, instances of severe liver damage are also on the rise.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease now affects two to five percent of all American children over five years, according to a study from the American Liver Foundation. As many as half of all obese children have the condition, which can progress to life-threatening cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. Many of today's teens will someday need liver transplants.

Children with belly fat and obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, heart problems and high cholesterol are more likely to have fatty liver diseases, which can be detected by a simple blood test.

Labels: fatty-foods, health_risks, liver_damage