It is characterized by bilateral, disproportionate accumulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue predominantly in the lower body. The onset of lipedema pathophysiology is thought to occur during periods of hormonal fluctuation, such as puberty, pregnancy, or menopause.
Lipedema is a severe chronic adipose tissue disorder that affects women worldwide. Although the pathophysiology of the disease has not been fully elucidated, several lines of evidence have suggested estrogen dysfunction may be central to the development of lipedema.
Causes. The exact cause of lipoedema isn't known but it may be caused by changes in your hormones: during puberty. when you're pregnant.
Estrogen is the main reason for weight gain around your thighs. The hormone estrogen causes fat cells to increase in females. This leads to the deposits of fats establishing most often about the buttocks or thighs.
Is there a connection between lipedema and progesterone or progesterone deficiency? Progesterone deficiency causes a tendency to oedema, and an additional deficiency can make lipedema worse.
Last, studies support that estrogen promotes fat accumulation specifically in the lower body adipose depots, which includes hips thighs and buttocks [15,16], which is a common site of excessive adipose tissue accumulation in most lipedema types (Table 1).
The high prevalence of hypothyroidism in lipedema patients could be related to the frequently observed lipedema-associated obesity. The low prevalence of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension appears to be a specific characteristic distinguishing lipedema from lifestyle-induced obesity.
The lower the levels of estradiol may cause weight gain. Throughout a woman's life, they may notice weight gain around their hips and thighs.
Causes: Estrogen Imbalance
Subcutaneous fat, which is fat under the skin, has estrogen receptors and hence it signals your body to store more estrogen. This fat is commonly seen in the thighs and butt, where you also notice more cellulite because the fat is closer to the surface (unlike visceral fat in the abdomen).
Treatments for lipoedema
The main treatments are: eating healthily, doing more exercise and trying to maintain a healthy weight. wearing compression stockings or bandages to reduce pain and discomfort, and make it easier for you to walk.
If general health and fitness are not maintained at current levels for an individual with lipedema (body weight and emotional health, specifically) the lipedema symptoms of excessive fat deposits and pain will typically progressively worsen hand-in-hand with increased body weight and/or psychological distress.
Lipedema is often confused with lymphedema, a similar disease that also causes swelling in the limbs.
Lipedema usually develops during puberty but can also occur after pregnancy, after gynecologic surgery, or during menopause. Symptoms of lipedema include: A smaller upper body and a much larger lower body, particularly the buttocks and legs' Large, column-like legs.
The tissue tenderness that is characteristic of lipedema can be checked with the pinch test, which is often felt as very unpleasant in the affected areas but causes no pain elsewhere. Increased capillary fragility manifests itself in spontaneous hematoma formation.
Ghrelin is the opposite of leptin. It tells you that you're hungry, but low ghrelin can make you feel hungrier and cause you to overeat. Cortisol, the stress hormone, also influences weight. High cortisol affects metabolism and may increase your risk of overeating or make weight loss more difficult.
The hormones leptin and insulin, sex hormones and growth hormone influence our appetite, metabolism (the rate at which our body burns kilojoules for energy), and body fat distribution. People who are obese have levels of these hormones that encourage abnormal metabolism and the accumulation of body fat.
Many women notice an increase in belly fat as they get older even if they don't gain weight. This is likely due to a lower level of estrogen because estrogen seems to have an effect on where fat is located in the body. Genes can contribute to an individual's chances of being overweight or obese too.
In fact, most doctors haven't heard of lipedema. A 2004 Stanford University study showed that most U.S. medical schools spend less than 30 minutes teaching the entire lymphatic system. "So, not surprisingly, doctors don't know a lot about these diseases or the underlying conditions," says Rockson.
Lipoedema may occur because of changes in female hormones. The most common time of onset is around puberty or when there are other hormonal shifts such as during pregnancy and menopause. You are at greater risk of developing lipoedema if other women in your family are affected.
Metabolic issues– Many lipedema patients experience metabolic problems, especially if they gain weight quickly, have a higher risk of diabetes, and may even experience hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).