Disability and emotional symptoms in women with lipedema: A comparison with overweight/obese women.

BACKGROUND: Lipedema is characterized by the painful abnormal deposition of adipose tissue in the lower limbs and is often misdiagnosed as obesity. Considering the numerous bothersome physical symptoms of lipedema, women with lipedema may have greater disability and emotional problems than women with lifestyle-induced obesity. OBJECTIVES: Our study aims to assess disability, anxiety and depression symptoms in women with lipedema compared to women with overweight/obesity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Women with lipedema (n = 45, with a mean age of 41 years) and women who are overweight/obese (n = 43, with a mean age of 44.95 years) were asked to complete the following questionnaires: The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO-DAS II), Beck's Depression Inventory - II (BDI-II), and The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: Despite the higher BMI in the overweight/obesity group, the group with lipedema was more disabled in numerous domains of the WHO-DAS II questionnaire, including Life activities - domestic, work and school responsibilities and Participation in society When the influence of BMI was adjusted, a difference in the domain of Mobility was also present. The study groups did not differ in anxiety and depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that behavioral impairment was the main factor affecting functioning in women with lipedema. Emotional symptoms did not differentiate the study groups. Leg volumes and adipose tissue pain intensity were associated with greater disability in women with lipedema, and should be considered in managing women with this condition and in future research estimating the effectiveness of lipedema treatment.

The Benefits of Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat (LCHF) Diet on Body Composition, Leg Volume, and Pain in Women with Lipedema.

This study aimed to assess the potential benefits of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet on body composition, leg volume, and pain reduction in women with lipedema compared to overweight or women with obesity. The study included 113 female participants, 56 with lipedema and 57 with overweight/obesity (BMI >25 kg/m2) without lipedema. All subjects were prescribed a low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet with anti-inflammatory properties to adhere to for a duration of 7 months. Measurements of anthropometry, body weight, composition, and pain (VAS) were conducted at the study's commencement and conclusion. 52 participants completed the study. Both groups experienced a similar weight reduction, amounting to 12.9% compared to the baseline (-10.8 kg vs. -11.9 kg; p = 0.14, for lipedema and women with overweight/obesity, respectively). The most reduction was in body fat mass. Improvements in various parameters were observed, except for ankle circumferences, which decreased more in the lipedema group. Lipedema participants showed significantly reduced pain levels following the LCHF diet (4.6 ± 2.6 vs 3.0 ± 2.3; p < 0.001). The LCHF diet holds promise for weight loss, body fat reduction, leg volume management, and pain alleviation in women with lipedema. These findings provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for lipedema management.

Impact of disability in patients with diabetes on the declared quality of life.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. The complications caused by this disease in many cases lead to a deterioration of the quality of life of patients. An additional factor that negatively affects the quality of life of respondents is disability, which in many cases is diagnosed due to diabetes. Objective: The aim of the study was to quantify the impact of disability on the declared quality of life in patients with diabetes and to compare the percentage of people with declared disability with the degree of disability among people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Material and methods: The study was based on an internet survey posted on social groups related to diabetes on Facebook. The shortened version of the questionnaire measuring quality of life created by the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-Bref) and some self-created questions were used. The survey was completed by 139 respondents. 113 (81.3%) of them were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus, and 26 (18.7%) with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Results: The subjective assessment of the quality of life in the entire group was moderate and totalled 3.5 ± 0.9 (on a scale from 1 to 5). The mean score of the physical domain of the WHOQOL-Bref was 48.9 ± 13.1, of the psychological domain was 55.2 ± 13.5, of the social domain was 60.8 ± 22.1, and of the environmental domain was 54.6 ± 14.5. 56.8% (79) of respondents were diagnosed with disability. 46 (58.2%) of them declared moderate disability. Disability was more frequently diagnosed in patients with type 1 diabetes compared to the group of patients with type 2 diabetes (67.3% vs. 11.5%; p<0.001). Very weak correlation was found between the duration of diabetes and particular domains of the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire (r ranging from -0.107 to -0.017; p>0.05). The subjective quality of life and the level of satisfaction with health were moderate in the group of patients with type 1 diabetes and declared disability (3.5 ± 0.9), without disability (3.4 ± 0.9) and in the group of patients with type 2 diabetes without disability (3.7 ± 0.8). The mean scores of particular domains of the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire were very similar in patients with type 1 diabetes, both with a disability certificate (physical domain 49.0 ± 13.6; psychological domain 55.3 ± 13.7; social domain 61.1 ± 22 .8; environmental domain 54.0 ± 14.7) and without (physical domain 48.8 ± 14.0; psychological domain 55.4 ± 13.9; social domain 63.1 ± 23.3; environmental domain 55 .4 ± 14.9), and in people with type 2 diabetes (physical domain 49.8 ± 10.4; psychological domain 56.3 ± 12.1; social domain 59.8 ± 19.1; environmental domain 57, 7 ± 11.4). Conclusions: Disability was diagnosed more often in patients with type 1 than type 2 diabetes. The disability certificate in the group of patients with type 1 diabetes does not affect the quality of life of the respondents compared to people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes without a disability certificate.