Many lipedema patients report that it took them a long time to get the diagnosis and start with appropriate and holistic treatment. The disease is often misdiagnosed or mistaken for obesity or lymphedema.
Although early and holistic treatment can prevent lipedema from progressing, many lipedema patients have to cope with consequences.
Many lipedema patients are also overweight and gaining more weight can worsen lipedema. Obesity not only increases your risk for other diseases, such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases, it also increases the risk of developing lymphedema in addition to lipedema. Obesity can add additional stress to the lymphatic system which can lead to lymphedema.
You can learn more about obesity, and the differences between obesity and lipedema, here.
Shape disproportions, dissatisfaction with your own body, and painful sensations can make it difficult to participate in daily life. However, reducing your social activities is a vicious circle that can amplify your symptoms. Meeting friends, being active outside, joining a fitness class – all these activities may take a lot of effort, but they are beneficial for your overall well-being in the end.
Anxiety and depression are common in patients with lipedema, as they are with many chronic diseases. Mental distress can worsen your lipedema symptoms, especially the perception of pain as depression and stress disorders are associated with higher pain intensity.
Lipedema patients may experience mental health challenges, including eating disorders, even before the onset of their symptoms. Seeking support is highly encourage and can be found in peer groups, one-on-one dialogue with a therapist or clinician and a variety of self-help tools.
Overweight and painful sensations can make it hard to stay active and exercise regularly. This increases the risk for joint problems, such as osteoarthritis of your knees or hips. Exercise and movement therapy can help to maintain a stable weight, improve strength and flexibility, and prevent or relieve joint problems.
Lipedema is characterized by the shape disproportion between the upper and lower body leading some patients to feel they do not fit the typical beauty ideal of their society. Additionally, these differences in sizes can make buying clothes difficult. Therefore, we often see lipedema patients try to lose weight through dieting. The aim of most diets is to lose weight in a short period of time and many fail in the end. Most gain back the weight with some even to a higher weight than before dieting. Instead, balanced nutrition and regular exercise are more effective to achieve and maintain a healthy and stable weight over time.
