Compression Therapy in Lipedema: Insights from a Pilot Study

Today I’d like to tell you about a group of researchers in Szeged, Hungary.The paper is titled, Lipoedema: detailed left atrial volumetric and strain analysis by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography from the MAGYAR-Path Study.It was published in the peer-reviewed journal Advances in Dermatology and Allergology  in June 2022.This study aims to look at heart volume and function in patients with lipedema compared to age- and gender-matched healthy controls using 3D imaging technology. They also examined if using medical grade compression stockings for one hour would improve the measured cardiac properties.

Today, we're exploring fascinating insights from a Swedish research study titled, A Large-Scale Experiment on New Year’s Resolutions: Approach-Oriented Goals Are More Successful Than Avoidance-Oriented Goals, published in PLOS ONE in December 2020. The researchers investigated the types of resolutions people make, their confidence in achieving them, and whether approach-oriented goals lead to better outcomes than avoidance-oriented ones. Additionally, the study looked at whether support through goal-setting exercises could help increase success rates.

Today, we're diving into a recent publication by a team of surgeons and clinicians in the U.S., titled Lipedema Reduction Surgery Improves Pain, Mobility, Physical Function, and Quality of Life: Case Series Report. This study, published in PRS Global Open in November 2023, highlights the transformative effects of lipedema reduction surgery for women in the USA, focusing on techniques that protect lymphatics and enhance post-surgery outcomes.

Today, I want to share insights from a review paper authored by researchers from Naples and Rome, Italy.Published in the peer-reviewed journal Current Obesity Reports in November 2023, the review summarizes the existing evidence on the efficacy and safety of a very low-calorie ketogenic diet as a potential treatment for lipedema, particularly in cases involving obesity.This paper is significant for those with lipedema, as it contributes to the growing body of evidence suggesting that lipedema may respond to specific dietary interventions, particularly ketogenic diets.

Today, I’ll share findings from a study by Polish researchers, titled The Usefulness of Compression Therapy in Lipedema Patients: A Pilot Study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in January 2023.The study compared two approaches: exercise combined with compression therapy versus exercise alone. While compression therapy doesn't reduce fat volume, the authors found it helps alleviate other lipedema symptoms. The study also highlighted the need for better measurement tools and future research on manual lymph drainage combined with compression.

In this episode, we discuss a paper written by researchers in Italy titled, "The Role of Physical Exercise as a Therapeutic Tool to Improve Lipedema: A Consensus Statement from the Italian Society of Motor and Sports Sciences and the Italian Society of Phlebology." It was published in the peer-reviewed journal Current Obesity Reports in July 2024.

In this episode, we explore a Swiss research paper titled “The Effect of a Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet on Laboratory Parameters in Women with Lipedema Compared to Overweight/Obese Women,” published in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients in June 2023.The study aimed to assess changes in blood markers after 7 months on a ketogenic diet in women with lipedema, compared to those who are overweight or obese. This research is significant for individuals with lipedema as it strengthens the evidence supporting carbohydrate restriction, particularly at ketogenic levels, as a potentially effective and safe treatment. The study also highlights some differences in how women with lipedema respond to the diet compared to obese women.

In this episode, we review a paper authored by two clinicians and researchers from Valencia, Spain.The study aimed to evaluate the current state of lipedema in Spain by examining the symptoms experienced, the treatments used, and their effectiveness. Additionally, the research explored the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on lipedema symptoms among the participants.

In this episode, we discuss a study conducted by surgeons in Rome, Italy, published in the journal Nutrients in August 2023. The study evaluates the effectiveness of a personalized Modified Mediterranean-Ketogenic Diet (MMKD), with or without carboxytherapy, on various lipedema symptoms such as body composition, pain, overall health, and quality of life.

In this episode, we explore a June 2023 study by surgeons in Sao Paulo, Brazil, published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. The study investigates how liposuction surgery for lipedema affects the lymphatic system, offering important insights for women with lipedema and highlighting another potential benefit of this treatment.