Pediatric Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) Program

Pediatric Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), previously known as Pediatric Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) or fatty liver disease, is a condition where excess fat is present in the liver, leading to inflammation and scarring. In children and teenagers, the disease is typically asymptomatic and incidentally found on screening laboratory testing during a routine well-care visit with the pediatrician. MASLD is often seen in overweight individuals, and many have other conditions associated with obesity such as diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obstructive sleep apnea. Treatment of MASLD is centered on healthy eating and physical activity with the goal of overall weight loss in a healthy and sustainable way. The MASLD Clinic at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a multidisciplinary clinic where our providers work with our providers to help our patients reach these goals safely and successfully. If other conditions are identified, our team will refer to other specialty services as needed.

If you'd like to learn more about MASLD, click here.

Clinical Trials and Research

Currently, we have a variety of studies for which we are enrolling.

Longitudinal Integration of Environmental Exposures, Omics, and Childhood NAFLD (LEON) Study: This study is under active enrollment to understand how our environment affects MASLD in Latino youth. Please contact Siri Boonsawat (sboonsawat@chla.usc.edu) for more information.
CHLA GI Biorepository: This study is under active enrollment to collect a variety of blood and stool samples for research purposes.

What To Expect During Your First Visit

You will meet with one of our providers to discuss details of your medical and dietary history. During follow-up visits with our team, you will meet with our dietician to review your diet in detail and provide specific dietary advice and counseling. Other services include psychology with Ilana Moss, PhD, and provided as needed.