Measurement of TMEM41B in mice with diet or genetically induced obesity revealed that TMEM41B levels were decreased compared to standard condition controls, indicating decreased TMEM41B may be a general mechanism for the development of NAFLD, upregulating de novo lipogenesis while also downregulating lipid secretion, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for NAFLD. This evidence concerns the gene TMEM41B and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.