LIPEDEMA AS A DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGE: A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF CLINICAL PRESENTATION, DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CONSEQUENCES FOR WOMEN

Adrianna Baran; Olaf  Krawczyk; Wojciech Kopyciński; Norbert Krawczyk; Piotr Wilczkowski; Natalia  Krzysztofek; Monika  Kamela; Katarzyna  Boszczyk; Małgorzata Grzybowska; Aleksandra  Palka

doi:10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6361

Authors

Adrianna Baran Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3986-2559
Olaf Krawczyk Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1493-5652
Wojciech Kopyciński Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2538-0534
Norbert Krawczyk Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7304-2226
Piotr Wilczkowski Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8118-1188
Natalia Krzysztofek Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6545-3962
Monika Kamela Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2503-2058
Katarzyna Boszczyk Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9974-3668
Małgorzata Grzybowska Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6611-3983
Aleksandra Palka Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5346-3871

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6361

Keywords:

Lipedema, Pain, Differential Diagnosis, Psychosocial Impact, Awareness of Lipedema

Abstract

Lipedema is a chronic, progressive disorder of subcutaneous adipose tissue that predominantly affects women. It is characterised by symmetrical, bilateral and disproportional subdermal fat agglomeration of lower and upper limbs sparing the hands and feet. Main lipedema symptoms are pain, heaviness in the affected areas, easy bruising and hypersensitivity to touch. The diagnosis of lipedema remains challenging. It is often misdiagnosed as obesity or lipedema due to lack of knowledge about this condition, and absence of standardized diagnostic criteria. Apart from clinical manifestation it is crucial to highlight that lipedema significantly affects patients quality of life. Patients emphasize that lipedema affects their daily functioning, causes mobility problems, and impacts their relationships with others. They often face stigmatizing comments about their body shape and are frequently told that they are lazy and should lose weight, despite the fact that weight loss does not reduce excess adipose tissue in the affected areas. Furthermore, lipedema is associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Therefore, increasing awareness of the disease, distinguishing it from obesity and lymphedema, and enabling timely diagnosis and treatment are essential to improve patients’ quality of life and daily functioning.

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