opinion: liver health should be taught in schools

as cases of liver disease rise, the canadian liver foundation has launched a nationwide petition calling on education ministers to include liver health in school curriculum.

by jennifer nebesky, ceo, canadian liver foundation

published apr 26, 2023

2 minute read

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2 minute read

join the conversation

out of the 25 per cent of canadians with liver disease 1 in 5 are kids

the canadian liver foundation is calling on education ministers across this country to recognize liver health as a pillar of overall health, says ceo jennifer nebesky. supplied

as cases of liver disease rise significantly, the canadian liver foundation is launching a nationwide petition calling on education ministers in this country to include information about liver health in health curriculum documents.

here’s why.

in 2013, the canadian liver foundation sounded the alarm about an emerging health crisis. a decade later, the proportion of canadians impacted by liver disease has grown dramatically from one in 10 in 2013 to roughly one in four today, more than doubling.

this is not an adults-only disease. non-2022年世界杯预选赛阿根廷 liver disease (nafld) is now the country’s most common form of liver disease, impacting nearly 25 per cent of all canadians, with one in five of those affected being children.

nafld exhibits few to no symptoms until it reaches advanced stages, meaning most people do not know they have the disease until it is too late. not only that, but liver cancer in canada is increasing, with death rates rising since the mid-1990s.

this is the silent killer we need to be talking about in canada.

stigma around liver disease leads to delays in medical care

for so long, liver complications have been tied to a stigma around alcohol and drug use, which meant most people assumed they wouldn’t be affected. while excessive drinking and drug use are associated with liver damage, these are not the only causes. stigma can lead to delays in seeking medical care, serious adverse health outcomes, and even bias or neglect from decision-makers.

as the name suggests, nafld is unrelated to substance use. instead, nafld occurs when excess fat is stored in the liver, making it harder for the organ to perform its normal function of filtering our blood and breaking down substances. the disease is believed to be related to a poor diet and a lack of physical activity. it is also linked to type 2 diabetes, genetics, heart disease and overuse of certain medications.

a 2019 ipsos survey revealed 56 per cent of people did not know that non-2022年世界杯预选赛阿根廷 liver disease could lead to liver cancer, the need for a liver transplant and even death, or that many cases are entirely preventable.

learning about lifesaving changes can stem the tide of liver disease

this is why the canadian liver foundation is calling on education ministers across this country to recognize liver health as a pillar of overall health, launching a petition to add liver-related educational material to the school curriculum.

when people are informed about a disease, they are much more likely to take steps to prevent it or manage it on their own. increasing awareness about the potentially lifesaving changes those young and old can make, including lifestyle and diet choices, can help curb the upward trajectory of cases.

as rates of liver disease rise, the goal is to provide canadians with the knowledge they need to reduce their chances of becoming the disease’s next statistic.

to sign the petition, click here.

jennifer nebesky is the ceo of the canadian liver foundation.

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