A chronic disease of the fatty tissue, still too often mistaken for simple excess weight. Here's what you need to recognise it and act.
Lipedema is thought to affect around one in ten women, yet it is rarely diagnosed at the first consultation.
Lipedema is a chronic, progressive disease of the adipose (fatty) tissue. It is not merely cosmetic: it involves an abnormal build-up of fat together with pain and other real symptoms. It affects almost exclusively women. Its most recognisable feature is a disproportionate distribution of fat in the limbs — mainly the legs, sometimes the arms — while the hands and feet are spared, creating a typical "cuff" effect at the wrists and ankles.
Lipedema is painful, symmetrical, diet-resistant fat, localised in the limbs, sparing the hands and feet.
Two main factors stand out: a genetic predisposition (many patients have a first-degree relative also affected) and a hormonal influence — the condition often appears or worsens at puberty, pregnancy or menopause.
Confusion is common, and the two can coexist. But pain, easy bruising, the cuff phenomenon and diet-resistance point towards lipedema. This is why examination by a trained professional matters.
Diagnosis is primarily clinical; no single imaging test confirms it. This page is informational and does not replace medical advice.
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