Together
misdiagnosed, but it doesn't have to be.
to take part in a current online survey into Lipoedema.
Together we are
making a difference.
Welcome to Lipoedema UK, a charity founded in 2012 for patients and healthcare professionals.
We are dedicated to raising awareness of Lipoedema – a unique and distressing condition.
Our mission is to help patients obtain a diagnosis and increase research into the most effective treatments.
‘Lipoedema patients’ needs have been ignored for too long.’
Sharie Fetzer,
Chair
What is Lipoedema/Lipedema?
Lipoedema is a genetic condition that affects almost exclusively women. Some estimates believe it may affect up to 10% of the adult female population.
Symptoms usually begin around puberty or at other times of hormonal change, triggering the development of excess fat in the legs, buttocks and sometimes the arms.
The visible difference in the size and shape of parts of the body affected can be extremely distressing, and can affect mobility.
Lipoedema fat is different from normal excess weight (obesity), and it doesn’t respond to low-calorie diets or exercise regimes. Lipoedema fat can be painful or highly sensitive to touch.
Most doctors and healthcare professionals lack the knowledge and skills to recognise it. There are no specific diagnostic tests and it is often misdiagnosed as either obesity or lymphoedema.
How can Lipoedema UK help you?
Lipoedema UK raises awareness of this little-known genetically inherited condition, which affects millions of women worldwide. Even today, people with Lipoedema frequently do not receive the help and support they deserve, and the condition is often misdiagnosed or unrecognized.
We want to help enable better diagnosis and treatment, and to provide a community for everyone affected.
We’re excited to announce we are collaborating with The Royal Society of Medicine to raise awareness of lipoedema through their online series Medicine and Me. The event takes place via The[...]
Monthly ‘Nurse and Clinical Specialist’ sessions for you to ask questions in a safe environment. Please note all our Open Clinics are live on the night and to maintain members[...]
Join the British Lymphology Society’s flagship annual conference on 6–8 October 2025 for the UK’s leading event dedicated to lymphoedema and chronic oedema care. This year’s meeting offers a rich[...]
Lipoedema UK will be exhibiting and joining thousands of primary care professionals at Best Practice Birmingham & Respiratory Professional Care 2025 – the UK’s leading event for general practice and respiratory[...]
Monthly ‘Nurse and Clinical Specialist’ sessions for you to ask questions in a safe environment. Please note all our Open Clinics are live on the night and to maintain members[...]
Lipoedema UK are excited to be attending the 2025 Lipedema World Congress. The congress represents a unique and prestigious gathering of leading experts and healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines, uniting lymphologists,[...]
Monthly ‘Nurse and Clinical Specialist’ sessions for you to ask questions in a safe environment. Please note all our Open Clinics are live on the night and to maintain members[...]
Lipoedema UK are excited to be exhibiting at The 13th National Lymphoedema Conference on 5th February 20255 at The Minster Building, London! This highly anticipated event will gather world-renowned experts,[...]
The BJN Awards will be held at BMA House in London on Friday, 20th March 2026, celebrating excellence in research and practice while recognising outstanding achievements across the nursing community.[...]
Real life inspiration
A high percentage of people diagnosed with Lipoedema (sometimes spelt Lipedema) say that the condition has negatively affected their confidence.
We’re here to reassure you that there are positive stories, too!
ZOE’S STORY
‘I first noticed my legs were big as a teenager in school. Kids were cruel and I was called “thunder thighs”. Jeans didn’t fit and I couldn’t wear leggings like the other girls. I already felt “different”.’
PAI’S STORY
‘I want to raise more awareness of this debilitating disease that many GPs are not aware of and are misdiagnosing women as obese. I also want to raise money for research so that we can get the treatment we need to manage this life-long chronic condition.’
We welcome you!
We are committed to making life better for you, and to highlighting your condition for healthcare professionals.
Our membership provides you with expert information and resources to share with your GP.
You will also gain access to our online meetings, which focus on health and wellbeing with presentations from health experts. For many people, Lipoedema is accompanied by feelings of isolation – these seminars are a fantastic way to lighten the load by meeting other people who are similarly affected.
We also offer membership for healthcare professionals.
Who are we?
Lipoedema UK is a charity founded in 2012 by a group of individuals affected by Lipoedema and healthcare professionals from St George’s Hospital, London.
Our goal is to improve awareness, early diagnosis, treatments and research. We believe that nobody should suffer alone, or be unaware that they have Lipoedema, so we encourage a vibrant community of those living with the condition to come together for mutual support, and to raise the aspirations for best practice treatments and standards of care worldwide.
Together we will beat Lipoedema.
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