Mounjaro and lipoedema-More Than a Weight-Loss Drug?
Mounjaro has become widely known as a weight-loss drug but research into tirzepatide, its active ingredient, now extends well beyond its use in weight reduction. Lipoedema is also more complex than excess fat deposition. Current research describes changes involving adipose tissue function, inflammation, fibrosis and the extracellular matrix, alongside vascular, hormonal and metabolic changes. Mitochondrial […]
Lipoedema & Prescribed Hormones: HRT, Contraception, IVF and GLP-1/Gut Hormones
Hormones are one of the most frequently discussed, and frequently misunderstood, subjects in lipoedema. Women are often told that lipoedema is “caused by oestrogen”, that the contraceptive pill will make it progress, that IVF drugs can trigger it, or that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) should be avoided after menopause. More recently, GLP-1 medicines have entered […]
Lipoedema & Hormones: Puberty, Pregnancy and Menopause
If you have lipoedema, you may have wondered whether hormones are making your symptoms worse. Many women first notice changes during puberty, pregnancy or menopause. Hormones are clearly involved in lipoedema, but the relationship is far more complex than is sometimes suggested. Current evidence indicates that hormonal changes may influence the development and progression of […]
Lipoedema Assessment Before Treatment
Why diagnosis has become more complicated than ever Awareness of lipoedema has transformed over the past decade. More women are recognising symptoms, asking questions and seeking help, which should be welcomed. Yet awareness has also changed the way many patients enter the healthcare system. Instead of attending a lipoedema assessment to establish a diagnosis, many […]
Lipoedema & The Venn Diagram of Multi-System Dysregulation
When Apparently Unrelated Symptoms Start to Look Related After repeated visits to the GP for seemingly unrelated symptoms, eventually the doctor starts realising that too many body systems are involved for everything to keep being treated as separate isolated problems. Irritable Bowel SyndromeMigraineExhaustion/ FatigueFood intolerancesEczemaPalpitationsDizzinessInterstitial cystitisChronic pain For years, each symptom may have been approached […]
Cellulite or Lipoedema; Understanding the Differences
After a record-breaking May Bank Holiday weekend in the UK, shorts, skirts and summer clothing appeared overnight. I found myself walking through town looking at a genuine cross-section of women’s legs of different ages, sizes and body shapes. Beautiful young girls, young and older women, all showed the same normal variations in cellulite, softer thighs, […]
Do I Have Lipoedema? The Rise of Social Media Diagnosis
Scrolling Late at Night A woman lies in bed late at night scrolling through TikTok. A video appears. “Do your legs feel heavy?”“Do you bruise easily?”“Do your calves stay large even when you lose weight?”“You might have lipoedema.” She pauses. Another video follows.Then another.Then dozens more. Within an hour, she feels as though somebody may […]
Lipoedema & ‘GLP-1s’
Introduction Lipoedema and ‘GLP-1s’ are being discussed much more frequently, particularly on social media, where the language used is often inaccurate and, at times, misleading. The term “GLP-1s” has become a catch-all, when in reality these medications sit within a broader group of incretin-based gut hormone therapies. These therapies act on pathways involving glucagon-like peptide-1 […]
Lipoedema, Pain & Breathing Pattern Disorders
Lipoedema, Pain and Breathing Pattern Disorders Many women who experience pain in lipoedema describe symptoms that extend beyond localised tissue pain. These may include fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, anxiety, gut disturbance, temperature sensitivity and poor sleep patterns. In some cases, women present with concurrent conditions such as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) or fibromyalgia. These symptoms […]
Lipoedema & Dysregulation
Introduction Lipoedema is usually described as a disorder of fat distribution, with disproportionate accumulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue, most commonly in the legs and sometimes the arms. The tissue is often painful, tender and prone to bruising. It has historically been classified by stage and type, according to the distribution and texture of the fat, […]