SummaryLipedema is a chronic fat distribution disorder that primarily affects women and is often associated with pain. There are currently no objective criteria for diagnosis and staging. Additionally, distinguishing lipedema from obesity is often challenging, which complicates treatment for those affected. Utilizing extensive anthropometric data from our database, LY-Search database, which includes over 6000 patients and aprox. 600 confirmed lipedema cases from the NAKO cohort, we will identify reference phenotypes through cluster analyses. In the subsequent step, we will systematically identify these reference phenotypes established from confirmed lipedema patients across the entire female NAKO cohort. The women identified will be compared with existing lipedema patients to explore whether other participants, lacking an official lipedema diagnosis, display similar characteristics such as body fat distribution, pain levels, or other significant parameters like depression tendencies and metabolic disorders. The results could potentially enhance diagnostic criteria and refine current classifications.

Keywords Body-Mass-Index lipedema lipoedema

InstitutionsUniversitätsklinikum Regensburg, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Universität Bayreuth, Universität Regensburg, Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (MDC)