Causes of Lipoedema are still not fully understood, but researchers and medical professionals believe a combination of genetic, hormonal, and physiological factors contribute significantly to this chronic condition.
The causes of lipoedema usually involve fat building up in an uneven way—mainly in the legs, buttocks, and sometimes arms—while sparing the hands, feet, and upper body. This condition mostly affects women. Sadly, many people confuse it with obesity or lymphoedema, which makes understanding its real cause even harder.
Genetic and Hormonal Triggers
One of the top causes of lipoedema may be genetics. Many people with this condition have close relatives with similar symptoms. In fact, studies show that up to 60% of patients report a family history. Although experts haven’t found the exact genes yet, this strong link points to inherited traits playing a big role.
Hormones may also trigger lipoedema. The condition often starts or gets worse during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause. These events all involve changes in hormones like oestrogen. Some experts think these hormones may change how fat grows or how blood and lymph vessels work. This can lead to swelling and even tissue scarring.
Blood Vessel and Lymphatic Changes
Another possible cause involves small blood and lymph vessels. Some people with lipoedema may have weak or leaky capillaries. This can let fluid and proteins leak into nearby tissues, causing swelling, pain, and ongoing inflammation. Over time, these fluid leaks may also harden the tissue, making symptoms worse.
Inflammation seems to be both a result and a trigger in causes of lipoedema. Fat tissue that grows out of control can release harmful chemicals. These cause low-grade inflammation that damages nearby cells and blocks lymph flow. This ongoing inflammation can also make the fat areas feel painful, swollen, or bumpy.
Lifestyle, Stress, and Fat Resistance
It’s important to know that lifestyle is not a root cause. Unlike obesity, lipoedema fat does not shrink with diet or exercise. Many patients work hard to lose weight and see no change in their legs or arms. This shows that causes of lipoedema are not linked to overeating or lack of activity. Sadly, when doctors blame patients for their size, it adds to the emotional stress and delays the right diagnosis.
There is also talk about physical or emotional trauma playing a role. Some people say their symptoms began after a hard fall, accident, or a very stressful life event. While these stories are common, science has not yet confirmed a clear link between trauma and the start of lipoedema.
Other Theories and Ongoing Research
Some researchers think that weak connective tissue may also be involved. Conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome affect how tissue holds together. This weakness might allow fat to collect in unusual ways or let fluid leak from vessels. While this idea is still being tested, it adds to the growing view that causes of lipoedema come from many systems in the body working poorly together.
Lipoedema also looks different from one person to the next. Some have mild discomfort, while others face severe pain, movement problems, and mental health struggles. This wide range of symptoms makes it hard to find a single cause. Instead, most experts now agree that it’s a mix of factors coming together in a complex way.
Distinguishing Causes from Progression
We must also tell the difference between causes and things that make the condition worse. Not moving enough, wearing the wrong compression garments, or being misdiagnosed can all speed up the damage. These don’t start the disease, but they do affect how fast it gets worse and how much it impacts life.
In short, the causes of lipoedema likely include a mix of inherited genes, hormone changes, blood and lymph vessel problems, and long-term inflammation. Even though research is moving forward, no one has found the exact trigger yet. More studies are needed to fully understand how and why this condition begins.
By learning more and improving early diagnosis, we can help people avoid years of confusion and get them the right care faster.
