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Lipedema: friend and foe
Yanira Sanchez-De la Torre1, Rita Wadeea1, Victoria Rosas2
1TREAT Program, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation
|March 10, 2018
Summary
Lipedema is a painful fat disorder more often a foe than a friend, causing distress and complications like obesity and lymphedema. However, it may offer some protection against metabolic issues like diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Genetics
- Immunology
Background:
- Lipedema is a chronic, underdiagnosed condition in women, marked by painful, symmetric fat accumulation in limbs.
- Hormonal changes, like puberty or menopause, can trigger lipedema onset.
- It is frequently misdiagnosed as obesity or lymphedema by healthcare providers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the 'friend' (benefits) and 'foe' (negative aspects) of lipedema.
- To analyze the association between lipedema and metabolic dysfunction.
- To highlight the need for further research into lipedema mechanisms and treatments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and discussions with lipedema patients.
- Institutional review board-approved analysis of medical charts from 46 lipedema patients.
- Collection of new data on metabolic parameters in lipedema patients.
Main Results:
- Lipedema fat is painful, resistant to lifestyle changes, and linked to obesity, joint issues, fatigue, lymphedema, and psychological distress.
- Associated hypermobility can worsen joint and aortic diseases.
- Despite high BMI, lipedema patients showed low incidence of diabetes (2%), dyslipidemia (11.7%), and hypertension (13%).
Conclusions:
- Lipedema is a detrimental fat disorder, primarily a 'foe' due to associated complications.
- It presents a complex profile, offering some protection against metabolic dysfunction.
- Further controlled studies are essential for understanding lipedema's mechanisms and developing effective treatments.
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