POOR nutrition and lack of exercise is causing residents to suffer from inflamed, fatty livers, according to new research.

Biobank found that 12 per cent of those they tested nationally were affected by the problem.

Dr Zahid Chauhan from Oldham described the statistics as "alarming" and said they should serve as a wake-up call for overweight and obese people in Bolton and Bury.

He said: "It is no exaggeration to say that fatty liver is a silent killer that is hard to discover even with ultra-sound.

"The only way to halt its malignant progress is by leading a healthier lifestyle.

"Patients in fairly dire straits have even reversed liver damage with better eating and exercise habits."

The liver is responsible for producing bile, which carries away waste and breaks down fats during digestion.

High deposits of fat in the organ are associated with diabetes, stroke and heart disease, while inflammation of the liver can lead to problems such as fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Experts have shown that losing more than 10 per cent of excess weight can remove some fat from the liver.

Dr Chauhan said: "We should all be trying to live healthier lifestyles as a matter of course, but the threat of fatty liver disease ought to prompt us to redouble our efforts to eat a better balanced diet, exercise more, quit smoking and ensure we take the free NHS health checks on offer.

"Like our hearts and other vital organs, our livers need a little love and protection."