Former Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino has revealed he was diagnosed with liver disease nearly 20 years ago.
Marino, who turned 64 on Monday, said he’s been living with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) — formerly dubbed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease — since 2007 when he learned of his diagnosis after a routine checkup.
MASH occurs when excess fat cells accumulate in the liver, causing chronic inflammation, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It’s reversible but can eventually lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis if left untreated.
MASH, the most common form of liver disease worldwide, is becoming more common as obesity rates rise, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Marino told People he received his diagnosis after complaining about fatigue — an early sign of MASH — but otherwise had no glaring symptoms.
“The doctors right away said … it can be taken care of, but, mainly for me, they were saying, like, ‘You gotta work out. You got to lose weight,’” he told the magazine, admitting that he’d let some healthy habits go after retiring from the NFL.
He said he was told to “cut back on the wine and pizza and candy, ice cream, those kind of things,” with his doctors recommending a Mediterranean diet of mostly vegetables, fruits, whole grains and healthy fats like olive oil.
That, he said, along with exercise, greatly improved his condition.
Marino said he continues to make exercise a daily priority. He trains with former teammate Terry Kirby at his gym in Weston, Fla., then goes on nightly walks or bike rides with his wife, Claire.
Marino played 17 seasons in the NFL, tossing 420 touchdowns and 61,361 yards — both records when he retired after 1999-2000 season. The 1984 MVP was a nine-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-NFL honoree. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
