Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a positive diagnostic criterion and metabolic dysfunction is listed as an important cause of hepatic liver disease. MAFLD is a liver manifestation of metabolic syndrome and a key driver of metabolic syndrome. Glucose and lipid metabolism are disordered in MAFLD, which leads to extrahepatic complications through cytokines, genetic variation, visceral fat accumulation, dietary intake, and complex intestinal microbiome. Extensive clinical evidence suggests that MAFLD is independently associated with various metabolic diseases. With its renaming, the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of MAFLD and metabolic-related diseases need to be reassessed and studied to lay out a foundation for effective prevention and treatment strategies in the future.