Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prevalent in people with the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Evidence is now accumulating that NAFLD is associated with obesity and diabetes and may serve as a predictor of cardiovascular disease. Although at present, treatment of the individual risk factors pertinent to NAFLD is advocated, novel therapies are emerging that may target steatosis and/or inflammation, thus ameliorating the overall cardiovascular disease risk. Long-term outcome studies need to establish whether treatment of NAFLD (and in particular which therapy) will affect the long-term outcome.