You are talking about one of the liver enzymes, that the liver
cells make, that is most specific to the liver itself, the ALT.
The doctor checks more enzymes than this and more blood
testing than this...to determine if there might be a liver problem.
1/ the liver enzymes (the ALT, AST, GGT, ALP) will give the
doctor an idea if there is possible liver cell damage.
{But because some of these enzymes are made in other parts
of the body...by the liver enzymes alone...a liver problem
cannot be determined}
2. the liver function blood tests (the Bilirubin, INR, PT, PPT,
and Albumin) give the doctor an idea of how well the liver
cells are able to perform some of the many functions they
do to keep the body well.
3/ the liver viral blood tests will see if a virus has entered
the body and is using the liver cells to replicate itself
...Like the hepatitis A,B, or C virus
...........................................
Your ALT enzymes is just slightly high.
No one blood testing is ever 100% accurate as many
things can and do affect the results of these tests.
Some of those are muscle injury, bone problems,
alcohol consumption, certain kinds of medications
taken, and even exercising before the testing was done
and much more.
The doctor only becomes concerned when he repeats
the tests and they stay out of normal range or go even
higher. Then he might order film testing to look
at the organ in question.
.....................
You mentioned about being overweight.
Some people can develop a fatty build up inside the
liver for different reasons, that can lead to the liver
cells becoming damaged: alcohol consumption,
weight gain (obesity), fast weight loss,
malnourishment, diabetes, insulin resistance,
metabolic disorders, taking certain kinds of
medications, high cholesterol/triglyceride levels
and others. By stopping the cause early on,
in most fatty liver cases, the problem can be
reversed. However, as fat build up inside
the liver and if the liver cells do become
damaged...the immune system of the body
may respond to this and cause inflammation
inside the liver which leads to the liver enlarging
in size and taking on a spongy texture.
This is then know as STeatohepatitis and it
is one step away from the liver cells dying
off and scar tissue forming inside the liver...
which is Cirrhosis.
You should discuss your concerns with your
doctor. No one here can diagnose what may
be wrong or even tell you that the ALT levels
will return to normal the next time you have
blood testing done.
To look up any lab tests you have done:
http://www.labtestsonline.org
This site will tell you much more about each
one, if you place the test (like the ALT) in
the search part of this site.