PhD project Lipedema is a disease characterised by painful fat accumulation in the legs and arms of affected women. Our research investigates the impacts of lipoedema on both the body and mental health.
Lipoedema is a chronic condition that primarily affects women and is characterised by increased, asymmetric fat accumulation. Its prevalence and causes are unknown, and knowledge of its consequences is limited. Using a qualitative approach, our research has described women’s experiences of daily life and healthcare in lipoedema. In upcoming observational studies, we will examine how lipoedema affects physical and mental health, body composition, and autonomic nervous system function.
Margareta, Kjell and Håkan Alfredson Foundation
The Skin Fund
The Edema Association
Lipoedema is a chronic condition primarily affecting women and characterised by increased and asymmetric fat accumulation. The condition can cause pain, reduced mobility, and psychological strain, and both its prevalence in Sweden and underlying causes remain unknown. Symptoms often develop several years after the initial physical changes, and the number of undiagnosed cases is believed to be high. Knowledge about lipoedema is limited both in society and within healthcare, and information about its functional impairments is lacking.
Our research group has published results from two qualitative studies that describe how people with lipoedema experience physical and psychological limitations in daily life, as well as challenges in receiving support from healthcare providers. In ongoing research, we examine physical strength and endurance, mental health (quality of life, stress, anxiety, depression, pain, and self-compassion), autonomic nervous system function (heart rate variability), and body composition (measured with DXA) in individuals with lipoedema.
By mapping both the physical and psychological consequences, we aim to increase knowledge of the condition, strengthen the basis for rehabilitation and support, and enable a better understanding of lipoedema in healthcare and society.
Main supervisor: Alexander Shayesteh
Co-supervisors: Elisabeth Nylander, Margareta Persson and Camilla Sandberg.
