Lipedema is a chronic medical condition that primarily affects women and is characterized by an abnormal, symmetrical buildup of fat in specific areas of the body, mainly the legs, and sometimes the arms and lower trunk. This condition typically begins or worsens during periods of hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, or menopause. Key features of lipedema include:
- Symmetrical fat accumulation mainly in the legs and sometimes arms, sparing the hands and feet.
- The affected fat tissue is pathological and cannot be reduced by diet or exercise.
- The skin over the affected areas may have a smooth or wavy appearance with nodular structures depending on the stage.
- Symptoms often include pain, tenderness, a feeling of pressure or tightness, and easy bruising.
- The condition can lead to functional impairment and emotional distress.
- Unlike regular fat or cellulite, lipedema involves pathological growth of fat cells and damage to small blood vessels, causing fluid leakage into connective tissue.
- Lipedema can progress in stages, with increasing severity and swelling, sometimes leading to secondary conditions like lymphedema due to lymphatic vessel blockage.
- The exact cause is not fully understood but is believed to have a hormonal and genetic component.
Lipedema is distinct from obesity and lymphedema and requires specific treatments, including conservative methods like compression, diet, and exercise for symptoms, as well as surgical options such as specialized liposuction in some cases. Overall, lipedema is a chronic fat distribution disorder involving painful and disproportionate fat deposits that mainly affect women, often triggered or worsened by hormonal changes.
