31/12/2025
Wat een goede uitleg over de verschillen tussen lipoedeem, lymfoedeem en obesitas!
De Manuele Lymfedrainage, die ik aan klanten geef, heeft vooralsnog het beste effect bij lymfoedeem. Deze is รฉรฉnzijdig en kan verschillende oorzaken hebben.
Lipoedeem is een *vetverdelingsstoornis*. De oorzaak ligt meestal in slecht aangelegde lymfevaten. Dit los je niet op met Manuele Lymfedrainage. Het kan wel verlichting geven.
Er is vรฉรฉl over te vertellen en dat ga ik in 2026 ook zeker doen! Als je nu vragen hebt, kun je die altijd aan me stellen!
๐ฟ Lipoedema vs Lymphoedema vs Obesity
Clinically Explained โ Why These Conditions Are Not the Same ๐ง
Many people are told they have โswelling,โ โfat,โ or โfluidโ โ often interchangeably.
Clinically, this is a serious problem โ ๏ธ.
While lipoedema, lymphoedema, and obesity may appear similar at first glance, they are distinct conditions with different underlying mechanisms, tissue behaviour, and management approaches.
Understanding the difference is not semantics.
It directlys it directly affects diagnosis ๐ฉบ, treatment decisions, emotional wellbeing ๐, and long-term outcomes.
๐ธ LIPOEDEMA
A chronic adipose tissue disorder
Lipoedema (also spelled lipedema) is recognised in current literature as a chronic, progressive disorder of adipose (fat) tissue, most commonly affecting women ๐ฉโ๐ฆฐ๐ฉโ๐ฆฑ๐ฉโ๐ฆณ.
It is characterised by:
โข Disproportionate fat accumulation, most often in the hips, thighs, legs, and sometimes arms
โข A symmetrical distribution โ๏ธ
โข Sparing of the hands and feet (especially in early stages) ๐ฆถโ
โข Pain, tenderness, and pressure sensitivity ๐ฃ
โข Easy bruising ๐ฃ
โข Heaviness and reduced tolerance to pressure or impact
โข Poor response to caloric restriction alone ๐ซ๐ฅ
Lipoedema often develops or worsens during hormonal transitions such as puberty, pregnancy, or perimenopause ๐, suggesting hormonal sensitivity combined with genetic predisposition ๐งฌ.
Importantly:
โ Lipoedema is not caused by overeating
โ It is not a lack of discipline
โ It is not simple obesity
Research confirms that lipoedema adipose tissue shows distinct structural and inflammatory features that differentiate it from obesity-related fat ๐ฌ.
๐ฟ LYMPHOEDEMA
A lymphatic transport disorder
Lymphoedema is a chronic condition caused by impaired lymphatic transport, leading to the accumulation of protein-rich interstitial fluid ๐ง.
It occurs when lymphatic vessels or lymph nodes are:
โข Absent
โข Damaged
โข Surgically removed
โข Scarred
โข Or overwhelmed beyond their transport capacity
Key features include:
โข Swelling primarily due to fluid accumulation, not fat
โข Often asymmetrical โ ๏ธ
โข Frequent involvement of the hands and feet
โข Pitting oedema in early stages
โข Progressive tissue changes over time if untreated
โข Increased risk of skin infections such as cellulitis ๐ฆ
Lymphoedema may be primary (congenital lymphatic abnormality) or secondary (for example after cancer treatment, surgery, radiation, infection, or trauma).
The primary pathology here is lymphatic failure, not abnormal fat deposition.
โ๏ธ OBESITY
A complex metabolic condition
Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic condition characterised by an increase in total body fat mass.
It is influenced by:
โข Genetics ๐งฌ
โข Metabolic regulation
โข Hormones
โข Environment
โข Lifestyle factors
In obesity:
โข Fat accumulation is generally generalised across the body
โข Weight reduction often occurs, at least partially, with sustained caloric deficit ๐ฅโก๏ธโฌ๏ธ
โข Pain, tenderness, and easy bruising are not defining diagnostic features
Obesity can co-exist with both lipoedema and lymphoedema โ but it does not explain the characteristic distribution, pain, or tissue behaviour seen in those conditions.
โ WHY THESE CONDITIONS ARE SO OFTEN CONFUSED
Lipoedema, lymphoedema, and obesity can all present with:
โข Enlarged limbs
โข Increased body mass
โข Clothing size changes ๐
However, the mechanisms are fundamentally different.
When these conditions are conflated, patients may experience:
โข Delayed or missed diagnosis โณ
โข Inappropriate treatment strategies
โข Repeated pressure to diet aggressively
โข Increased shame and self-blame ๐
โข Worsening symptoms over time
Clinical reviews consistently emphasise that visual appearance alone is insufficient for diagnosis โ tissue behaviour, symptom profile, and pattern recognition are essential ๐ง .
๐ THE OVERLAP: LIPO-LYMPHOEDEMA
Precise language matters here โจ.
Lipoedema is not initially a lymphatic disease.
However, as lipoedema progresses, several factors may increase lymphatic load, including:
โข Enlarged adipose tissue volume
โข Chronic inflammation ๐ฅ
โข Fibrotic connective tissue changes
Over time, this can impair lymphatic transport, leading to secondary lymphatic insufficiency, often referred to as lipo-lymphoedema.
This does not mean lipoedema โturns intoโ lymphoedema.
It means the lymphatic system becomes overwhelmed by increased tissue load.
๐ซ WHY DIETING OFTEN FAILS IN LIPOEDEMA
In obesity, adipose tissue often responds to caloric restriction.
In lipoedema, studies show:
โข Fat cells are structurally and biologically different
โข Inflammatory signalling is increased ๐ฅ
โข Fibrosis restricts tissue flexibility and fluid exchange
As a result, calorie restriction may:
โข Reduce weight in non-affected areas
โข Fail to significantly change lipoedema-affected tissue
โข Increase fatigue, stress, and hormonal dysregulation ๐ด
This explains why many women report โdoing everything rightโ without proportional changes.
This is biological resistance, not personal failure ๐.
๐ฏ WHY CORRECT IDENTIFICATION MATTERS
Misclassification leads to:
โข Inappropriate care plans
โข Increased psychological distress
โข Delayed lymphatic support
โข Poor long-term outcomes
Correct identification allows for:
โข Appropriate conservative management
โข Better symptom control
โข Reduced shame
โข Improved quality of life โจ
๐ฑ A CLINICAL REFRAME THAT HELPS EVERYONE
Lipoedema โ fat-dominant adipose tissue disorder
Lymphoedema โ fluid-dominant lymphatic transport failure
Obesity โ metabolic condition with increased total body fat
They may overlap โ but they are not interchangeable.
๐ FINAL THOUGHT
Bodies are not moral failures.
They are biological systems responding to load, genetics, hormones, and inflammation.
Understanding which system is involved changes everything.
๐ PEER-REVIEWED REFERENCES (2020โ2024)
1. Mortada R, et al.
Lipedema: A Chronic Adipose Tissue Disorder Often Misdiagnosed as Obesity or Lymphedema.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12081092/
2. Lomeli A, et al.
Lymphedema and Lipedema: A Review of Clinical Features and Differential Diagnosis.
Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, 2024.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38950986/
3. Carvalho E, et al.
Lipedema: A Common, Underdiagnosed Disease.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2024.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096691124000608
4. Rabiee A.
Adipose Tissue Biology in Lipedema.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 2024.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2024.1691161
5. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine.
Diagnosis and Management of Lymphedema.
CCJM, 2024.
https://www.ccjm.org/content/91/7/425
๐ Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health regimen.
