Hello, and Welcome!
I run this platform because I know what it’s like to live with lipedema and not have access to updated research or clear information.
Glad you found your way to my Substack. My name is Carina, I’m 34, and I’m from Oslo, Norway.
I was diagnosed with lipedema in January 2012 after years of intense leg pain that no one could properly explain. When I was 20, I went back and forth to my GP trying to understand what was happening. At the time, there were no lipedema communities and very few learning resources. It took years before I met another woman with the same condition.
Between September 2021 and the year after, I had four lipedema reducing surgeries. My surgeon encouraged me to use my academic background to help others with lipedema, because she saw a growing demand among her lipedema patients for guidance related to food and diet. That ultimately led me to start my own company in 2021, now called LipedemaScience, where I coach and share science based knowledge about lipedema.
Even though there is a company behind it, this is a hobby that I dedicate much of my spare time to. Being disciplined and having obligations to you as my subscriber also helps me thrive, and it pushes me to go even deeper into the material. Over the years, I have learned that spending so much time focusing on lipedema in a positive and curious way helps me cope with it better.
I feel less alone.
I feel encouraged.
I feel empowered.
I feel blessed.
I feel educated,
which is a life goal for me.
About me
I have a bachelor’s degree in human nutrition and a master’s degree in food science. I’ve worked in research and the food industry, published peer reviewed papers, managed a lab, studied inflammatory responses from pea peptides in human intestinal cells, and worked as a quality manager in food production. Today I work full time as an IT project manager in software development, with AI as part of my daily work. Lipedema still takes a lot of my time because it affects so many parts of life. This is where I put my learning and experience to use.
What you’ll find on this Substack, and where to read the content
On Substack I share 1) my own experience, 2) other people’s stories, 3) interviews with surgeons, physiotherapists, and researchers, and 4) research breakdowns. When I write about research, I include sources and references so you can read further if you want.
In “Settings” you can choose how you want to follow along. Email, app, or web.
A lot of researchers and clinicians follow this Substack. If you comment and join the discussion, your experience and questions can influence what gets studied next.
You can stay a free subscriber, which gives you access to some of my content. If you want access to all my content, I can assure you that you’ll be able to learn something new about lipedema every day.
