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, […]
Lipoedema & Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Introduction Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system affecting regulation of circulation during postural change, particularly on transition from lying or sitting to standing. The nervous system comprises the somatic system, responsible for conscious movement, and the autonomic nervous system, which regulates internal physiological function without conscious input. The […]
Lipoedema & Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
Introduction Mast cells are part of normal human physiology and are best known for their role in allergic reactions. They sit within connective and adipose tissues, particularly around blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and peripheral nerves, as well as in areas such as the skin, respiratory mucosa and gastrointestinal lining where potential toxins, irritants or antigens […]
Lipoedema, Endometriosis & Gynaecological Disease
Introduction Understanding how lipoedema relates to wider aspects of women’s health remains an important but developing area of clinical research. Lipedema in Women and Its Interrelationship with Endometriosis and Other Gynecologic Diseases is a 2026 scoping review by Diogo Pinto da Costa Viana, Adriana Luckow Invitti and Eduardo Schor, based at Brazilian academic institutions including […]
World Obesity Day 2026: APPG Obesity Meeting at Portcullis House
Introduction On 1st March, at the invitation of Kate Forster, I attended the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Obesity meeting at Portcullis House in Westminster, to represent Lipoedema UK. The meeting was chaired by Mary Glindon MP and brought together clinicians, policymakers, patient advocates and representatives from digital weight-management services to discuss the current landscape […]