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 Lipedema is one of the most under diagnosed diseases in America. An estimated 6 to 12 million American women are presently undiagnosed. Lipedema sufferers seek medical attention as early as onset of puberty yet find no healthcare professional trained to recognize the disease. Obesity is the number one misdiagnoses. Lipedema women are ignored when they claim they eat very little and exercise a lot. Doctors prescribe water retention meds, diets, exercise programs, knee replacements, and bypass surgery, all of which are significantly contraindicated treatments for lipedema. By the time this disease is diagnosed, it is often end stage, meaning the lymphatic system has been compromised and the joints, especially knee joints, are permanently damaged. Also, wrong medical treatments administered over several decades have caused lipedema sufferers much psychological and physical harm. Because most doctors know nothing about lipedema, they blame the end stage patient's condition on addictive non-compliance of food intake. As many as one out of every ten fat women you know may have untreated lipedema. They live in shame for a condition caused by their genetic history. Lipedema is a genetic fat suit. This fat suit is made of adipose, a kind of fat that layers first in the legs and ankles, thighs, lower belly, and buttocks. Lippies are often a few sizes smaller above the waist and have thin arms and face in early stage, regardless of their weight or size. It is the disproportion of weight between top and bottom or belly and arms that should alert professionals. No one who is oddly oversized in one or more areas of the body should be considered obese. Adipose in these accumulated areas WILL NEVER BE LOST BY DIET OR EXERCISE. Traditional medical approaches will only create anorexics underneath their fat suit.
This disease strikes at puberty, birthing of children, birth control, female surgeries, and menopause causing female hormones or thyroid malfunction to deposit more adipose anywhere it can, including joints. In other words, every reproductive milestone causes weight spikes and the reshaping of bodies to accommodate the increased fat. Lipedema sufferers often become anorexic and malnutritioned by losing too much of their essential body weight trying to lose adipose, or they give up, eat, and end up weighing 400 pounds. Lipedema is individual to each sufferer, ranging from symmetrical slight cankles to huge lower bodies. This insidious, progressive, seldom-diagnosed disease causes immobility, secondary illness, social isolation, and loss of self worth if not detected early.
Lipedema was first recognized in 1941 by Mayo Clinic. Since then it has become well-known, treated, and researched in Europe and Australia. At present, surgeries are performed in England and Germany. New York State just introduced a new bill AO5321 seeking funds to research all lymphatic disease including lipedema. The key to defeating this disease is educating the medical professionals in our communities.
Lipedema. fat, fat cells, Lipedema lymphoedema, lymphoedema fat legs, maggie McCarey |
