Food-Systems Lens Links Western Diet and Binge Drinking to Rapid Fatty Liver Progression

A UVM PhD candidate physician studies how a Western-style diet with binge drinking accelerates fatty liver disease using a mouse model that mirrors human patterns; findings show rapid progression from fatty liver to inflammatory disease within about 12 weeks, especially in males, with no FDA-approved treatment—emphasizing prevention through food-system changes like greater access to minimally processed foods and reduced high-sugar products, while also exploring sex differences and dietary fat sources. The work underscores a systems-level approach to a medical problem and has earned the Graduate Research Excellence Award.