Stefano Bellentani Named Chair of the FIF Scientific Committee

The Italian Liver Foundation (Fondazione Italiana Fegato ETS) has recently appointed Dr. Stefano Bellentani, a specialist in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, as Chair of its Scientific Committee. Internationally recognized as one of the leading experts in the study of steatotic liver disease (fatty liver disease) and chronic liver disorders, Dr. Bellentani has made a major contribution to advancing scientific knowledge of liver diseases and their associated risk factors. Among the scientific achievements that have marked his more than three-decade career, the landmark Dionysos Study stands out. Conducted together with Professor Claudio Tiribelli, President of the Italian Liver Foundation, and other Italian researchers, it is widely regarded as one of the most influential epidemiological studies on steatotic liver disease in the general population. The study demonstrated that overweight is an even more significant risk factor for fatty liver disease than excessive alcohol consumption, fundamentally reshaping the understanding of the condition and its determinants.
He currently practices as a gastroenterologist at the Villa Richeldi Outpatient Clinic in Carpi, and by the Lifestyle Medical Clinic of Locarno, in Switzerland. In 2013, he obtained the Italian National Scientific Qualification for Full Professor of Gastroenterology.

His clinical practice focuses primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of steatotic liver disease (fatty liver disease), viral hepatitis, digestive disorders, and clinical nutrition. His diagnostic expertise includes abdominal ultrasound, FibroScan®, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
Author of more than 120 scientific papers and presentations at national and international conferences, Dr. Stefano Bellentani has been awarded the prestigious Sheila Sherlock International Award by the International Association for the Study of the Liver (IASL), one of the highest distinctions in the field of hepatology. In 2026, at the Turin International Book Fair, his first book, *Wellness and Longevity Without Drugs*, received the **Italian Authors 2026 Award**.

Dyonisos Study
Conducted in several groups of participants stratified by body weight and alcohol consumption, the study provided an in-depth analysis of the prevalence of fatty liver disease and the main factors associated with its development. The findings showed that steatotic liver disease was present in 16.4% of the control group, 46.4% of heavy alcohol consumers, and 75.8% of individuals with obesity. The prevalence rose to as high as 94.5% among participants with both obesity and heavy alcohol consumption.
The study's most innovative finding, however, was the demonstration that obesity is a more important risk factor than excessive alcohol consumption alone in the development of fat accumulation in the liver. Specifically, the risk of developing steatotic liver disease was found to be 4.6 times higher in individuals with obesity, compared with a 2.8-fold increase among heavy alcohol consumers. In participants presenting both conditions, the risk increased to nearly six times that of the reference population.

The findings of the Dionysos Study had a significant impact on the international scientific community, anticipating by many years the growing focus on metabolic liver diseases and the pivotal role of overweight, obesity, and diabetes in liver health. The evidence generated by the study helped reshape prevention strategies and foster greater awareness of the importance of healthy lifestyles in protecting liver health as a cornerstone of overall health and healthy longevity. 
Currently, at the Lifestyle Medical Clinic in Locarno, Dr. Bellentani promotes the practice of Lifestyle Medicine through multidisciplinary care and shared clinical protocols—an approach that he explores in depth in his latest book, Benessere e longevita’ senza farmaci (Healthy Living and Longevity Without Drugs).