<Awareness> Lipedema or just fat legs?
Tabinda Salman
Hello All,
The word ‘Lipidema’ might be new to a lot of people but to be honest this is the worst word for those who are suffering from this very disease. Lipedema is a chronic condition, when there is an extra and irregular distribution of adipose tissues or fat deposits under the skin, usually in the buttocks, thighs, and calves. The upper arms can also be affected but the hands or feet remain unaffected. The diseased fat causes pain, tenderness, and heaviness in the affected areas. Many people with Lipedema also bruise easily and may develop knock knees, flat feet, and joint problems.
This condition can cause physical as well as emotional pain, along with mobility problems as it progresses. Lipedema is usually misdiagnosed as regular obesity but it’s not because lipedema fat cells are different from other fat cells. It’s a unique type of illness. Researchers have identified a molecule that ties lipedema to other lymphatic diseases, such as lymphedema, and distinguishes it from obesity.
Causes of lipedema
The cause is still unclear and unknown, but it is believed according to scientists and researchers that genes and hormonal factors play a big part in causing this disease as it is often found to run in families, and a person having a family history has a risk factor for developing it. This disease can affect mostly women, especially during pregnancy, puberty, or menopause.
Symptoms of lipedema
The symptoms of lipedema are:
· The size of the legs becomes double that upper body size. The upper body disproportionately gets smaller than the lower body.
· Legs appear symmetrically swollen; swelling is from the hips down to the ankles. The feet are not usually affected.
· Affected areas feel 'spongy' and cool and the skin becomes soft and subtle.
· Bruises appear easily on the affected areas.
· Rice-like nodules can be seeded under the skin and can also be felt.
· Pain and tenderness when the swollen part is touched.
How does lipedema start?
Lipedema can start at any stage of your life especially when your body undergoes hormonal changes.
This condition starts when fats continue to build up and eventually the lower body becomes heavier. This results in some serious consequences, what happens is that the fat layer which starts depositing in the leg blocks the vessels of the lymphatic system. It is a vital system of the body because it helps to maintain body fluid and protect the body against any infection. The blockage of the lymphatic system prevents the proper drainage of lymph fluid, leading to a build-up of fluid called lymphedema.
Over time mobility may be reduced and due to that patient may experience depression.
Treatment of Lipedema
There is a range of different types of treatments, including taking medicines or undergoing different procedures. Initial treatment is generally a basic health care approach such as taking a healthy diet, exercising, and trying to maintain a healthy weight.
ü Medication
An anti-inflammatory drug is recommended to be helpful in such conditions.
ü Exercise
It helps to reduce fluid build-up, improves mobility, and also allows the legs to work easily. The best exercises to reduce pain are swimming, walking, or biking.
ü Massage
It is the form of massage that involves gentle, rhythmic pumping movements to stimulate the flow of lymph around blocked areas to healthy vessels.
ü Compression
It is simply the use of bandages, custom-fitted panties, or spandex shorts to increase the pressure of tissue in the legs.
ü Physiotherapy
It may help to preserve mobility for the patients suffering from this condition for a long time. Physical therapy may help people in promoting body movements and helps to stimulate the flow of lymph around blocked areas to healthy vessels.
ü Liposuction
This procedure helps to remove fat from the legs. During the process, a hollow tube is placed under the skin for the suction of the fat tissue from the legs. It requires several sessions and depends on the amount of fat in the person.
ü Care of skin
It helps in reducing the risk of wounds and infection if there is unnecessary swelling in the body.
ü Surgery
While surgery is done to successfully remove fat tissue, but the drawback is that it can also damage lymphatic vessels.
ü Diet
A healthy diet may also slow down the growth of fat deposits.
If lipedema is not treated properly, it causes severe problems like infections, slow wound healing, harder skin on the legs, etc. June has just passed by and the month was especially associated with this condition as it is considered Lipedema Awareness Month.
On behalf of NAYS-Pakistan, we would like to spread awareness about this unusual but painful fat syndrome. It’s time for us to understand that being fat is not just obesity but there are certain conditions that result in us getting fatter just like Lipedema, the illness that is often mistaken for obesity and significantly underdiagnosed.
Article: Sundeela Fayyaz
Best Regards,
Chief coordinator
National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS) Pakistan,