Do You Have Lipedema and Want to Learn More About Calories?
You might immediately think:
“Why should I focus on calories?”
“Lipedema isn’t about calories.”
“Lipedema fat is resistant to weight loss.”
Current research tells us that lipedema fat is indeed more resistant to weight loss than typical adipose tissue. But it also shows that healthy fat cells exist side by side with lipedema-affected fat. We also know that overweight can worsen lipedema. More adipose tissue increases pressure within the tissue, adds strain to the lymphatic system, and places greater stress on blood vessels.
Even if we have lipedema, we cannot say: “This disease isn’t about calories, so I don’t need to think about them.”
I have known about my lipedema for 14 years. I have gained weight, and I have lost weight. For me, those changes have been about calorie balance. At the same time, the lipedema fat itself has largely remained unchanged, even during weight loss. Still, I feel better when I am leaner and carry less stored healthy fat.
CarinaW is a nutritionist and food scientist with a passion for sharing knowledge with women living with lipedema. By supporting her work, you contribute to increasing access to research-based insights on lipedema and nutrition. Become a member to gain full access to all articles.
As many of you know, I have gained significant weight over the past years due to hormones, inactivity, increased calorie intake, and multiple egg retrievals. Each retrieval has involved anesthesia. I have trained far less than I usually do, almost not at all. On Thursday, I begin my fourth round of hormonal stimulation for another egg retrieval. After this, I will gradually return to training, reduce my weight, and reconnect with my body. My lipedema-affected body, which I still have a strong and respectful relationship with. A body that can run, squat, and do burpees.
This post is therefore about calories. Not to reduce food to numbers, but because awareness can lead to important realizations. I had my own when I studied nutrition and truly understood how much energy is contained in nuts, butter, cream, cheese, and oils. I know that I have gained weight largely because I consumed significant amounts of cold-pressed olive oil, unsalted nuts, and avocado—foods that are nutrient-dense and beneficial for fertility, yet also highly energy-dense.
