Since the role of the liver in metabolic dysfunction, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, was demonstrated, studies on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) have shown associations between fatty liver disease and other metabolic diseases. Unlike the exclusionary diagnostic criteria of NAFLD, MAFLD diagnosis is based on the presence of metabolic dysregulation in fatty liver disease. Renaming NAFLD as MAFLD also introduced simpler diagnostic criteria. In 2023, a new nomenclature, steatotic liver disease (SLD), was proposed. Similar to MAFLD, SLD diagnosis is based on the presence of hepatic steatosis with at least one cardiometabolic dysfunction. SLD is categorized into metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-related/-associated liver disease, alcoholrelated liver disease, specific etiology SLD, and cryptogenic SLD. The term MASLD has been adopted by a number of leading national and international societies due to its concise diagnostic criteria, exclusion of other concomitant liver diseases, and lack of stigmatizing terms. This article reviews the diagnostic criteria, clinical relevance, and differences among NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD from a diabetologist’s perspective and provides a rationale for adopting SLD/MASLD in the Fatty Liver Research Group of the Korean Diabetes Association.

Tattooing is an invasive procedure that involves the introduction of permanent pigments into the dermis, and is categorized as a medical procedure in Korea. Despite the medical, cosmetic, and aesthetic purposes of tattooing, legislative proposals to allow non-medical personnel to perform tattooing have consistently been rejected on public health grounds, prioritizing health and safety considerations. Professional organizations have maintained a consistent position, highlighting the risks of allowing non-medical individuals to perform tattooing. These risks include procedural complications, use of unsafe practices, and inadequate legal frameworks to ensure accountability.Addressing such issues requires careful consideration beyond economic or convenience factors, with an emphasis on public health policies. To address these concerns, the Korean Dermatological Research Foundation convened its 1st Policy Forum on October 6, 2024. The forum discussed the safety aspects, medical complications, and legal implications of tattooing performed by non-medical personnel. These findings highlight the significant risks and regulatory gaps associated with such practices, underscoring the need for a comprehensive review and stringent regulations to protect public health.

Tattooing is an invasive procedure that involves the introduction of permanent pigments into the dermis, and is categorized as a medical procedure in Korea. Despite the medical, cosmetic, and aesthetic purposes of tattooing, legislative proposals to allow non-medical personnel to perform tattooing have consistently been rejected on public health grounds, prioritizing health and safety considerations. Professional organizations have maintained a consistent position, highlighting the risks of allowing non-medical individuals to perform tattooing. These risks include procedural complications, use of unsafe practices, and inadequate legal frameworks to ensure accountability.Addressing such issues requires careful consideration beyond economic or convenience factors, with an emphasis on public health policies. To address these concerns, the Korean Dermatological Research Foundation convened its 1st Policy Forum on October 6, 2024. The forum discussed the safety aspects, medical complications, and legal implications of tattooing performed by non-medical personnel. These findings highlight the significant risks and regulatory gaps associated with such practices, underscoring the need for a comprehensive review and stringent regulations to protect public health.

Since the role of the liver in metabolic dysfunction, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, was demonstrated, studies on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) have shown associations between fatty liver disease and other metabolic diseases. Unlike the exclusionary diagnostic criteria of NAFLD, MAFLD diagnosis is based on the presence of metabolic dysregulation in fatty liver disease. Renaming NAFLD as MAFLD also introduced simpler diagnostic criteria. In 2023, a new nomenclature, steatotic liver disease (SLD), was proposed. Similar to MAFLD, SLD diagnosis is based on the presence of hepatic steatosis with at least one cardiometabolic dysfunction. SLD is categorized into metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-related/-associated liver disease, alcoholrelated liver disease, specific etiology SLD, and cryptogenic SLD. The term MASLD has been adopted by a number of leading national and international societies due to its concise diagnostic criteria, exclusion of other concomitant liver diseases, and lack of stigmatizing terms. This article reviews the diagnostic criteria, clinical relevance, and differences among NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD from a diabetologist’s perspective and provides a rationale for adopting SLD/MASLD in the Fatty Liver Research Group of the Korean Diabetes Association.

Since the role of the liver in metabolic dysfunction, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, was demonstrated, studies on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) have shown associations between fatty liver disease and other metabolic diseases. Unlike the exclusionary diagnostic criteria of NAFLD, MAFLD diagnosis is based on the presence of metabolic dysregulation in fatty liver disease. Renaming NAFLD as MAFLD also introduced simpler diagnostic criteria. In 2023, a new nomenclature, steatotic liver disease (SLD), was proposed. Similar to MAFLD, SLD diagnosis is based on the presence of hepatic steatosis with at least one cardiometabolic dysfunction. SLD is categorized into metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-related/-associated liver disease, alcoholrelated liver disease, specific etiology SLD, and cryptogenic SLD. The term MASLD has been adopted by a number of leading national and international societies due to its concise diagnostic criteria, exclusion of other concomitant liver diseases, and lack of stigmatizing terms. This article reviews the diagnostic criteria, clinical relevance, and differences among NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD from a diabetologist’s perspective and provides a rationale for adopting SLD/MASLD in the Fatty Liver Research Group of the Korean Diabetes Association.

Tattooing is an invasive procedure that involves the introduction of permanent pigments into the dermis, and is categorized as a medical procedure in Korea. Despite the medical, cosmetic, and aesthetic purposes of tattooing, legislative proposals to allow non-medical personnel to perform tattooing have consistently been rejected on public health grounds, prioritizing health and safety considerations. Professional organizations have maintained a consistent position, highlighting the risks of allowing non-medical individuals to perform tattooing. These risks include procedural complications, use of unsafe practices, and inadequate legal frameworks to ensure accountability.Addressing such issues requires careful consideration beyond economic or convenience factors, with an emphasis on public health policies. To address these concerns, the Korean Dermatological Research Foundation convened its 1st Policy Forum on October 6, 2024. The forum discussed the safety aspects, medical complications, and legal implications of tattooing performed by non-medical personnel. These findings highlight the significant risks and regulatory gaps associated with such practices, underscoring the need for a comprehensive review and stringent regulations to protect public health.

Since the role of the liver in metabolic dysfunction, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, was demonstrated, studies on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) have shown associations between fatty liver disease and other metabolic diseases. Unlike the exclusionary diagnostic criteria of NAFLD, MAFLD diagnosis is based on the presence of metabolic dysregulation in fatty liver disease. Renaming NAFLD as MAFLD also introduced simpler diagnostic criteria. In 2023, a new nomenclature, steatotic liver disease (SLD), was proposed. Similar to MAFLD, SLD diagnosis is based on the presence of hepatic steatosis with at least one cardiometabolic dysfunction. SLD is categorized into metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-related/-associated liver disease, alcoholrelated liver disease, specific etiology SLD, and cryptogenic SLD. The term MASLD has been adopted by a number of leading national and international societies due to its concise diagnostic criteria, exclusion of other concomitant liver diseases, and lack of stigmatizing terms. This article reviews the diagnostic criteria, clinical relevance, and differences among NAFLD, MAFLD, and MASLD from a diabetologist’s perspective and provides a rationale for adopting SLD/MASLD in the Fatty Liver Research Group of the Korean Diabetes Association.