A Lipedema is a chronic condition which causes an abnormal buildup of fat cells, which primarily occurs in the legs and also sometimes in your arms and is often disproportionate to the rest of your body.
Lipedema is characterized by painful and symmetrical swelling in the affected limbs, and the fat deposits are also resistant to exercise and diet.
The condition Lipedema involves the excessive buildup of fat cells in specific areas, most commonly in the arms and legs and the hands and feet are often spared.
The affected limbs in Lipedema often appear much larger than the rest of your body and creates a disproportionate appearance.
Lipedema can cause tenderness, pain and easy bruising in the areas affected.
Lipedema can sometimes be misdiagnosed as obesity, although Lipedema is a distinct condition that has different characteristics.
The fat in lipedema is resistant to traditional weight loss methods like exercise and diet.
Lipedema can also progress over time, with stages of lipedema ranging from early lipedema with subtle fat accumulation to more advanced stages with significant swelling and skin changes.
And in some cases, lipedema can also be associated with lymphedema, which is another condition that causes swelling as a result of lymphatic system issues.
And when both lipedema and lymphedema are present, it's called lipolymphedema.
Lipedema mainly affects women, although it can also occur rarely in men.
There's not a cure for lipedema although various treatments are available to help manage the symptoms and improve your quality of life, including compression therapy, manual lymphatic drainage and sometimes surgical procedures like liposuction.