Lipedema is a chronic, often painful, disease marked by an abnormal and disproportionate accumulation of fat. Lipedema nearly exclusively affects women and is frequently misdiagnosed as lymphedema or obesity. Weight loss measures rarely affect the abnormal, disproportionate fat distribution, typically noted in the lower body. Disease progression can result in physical, functional, and psychosocial impairments. Despite lipedema’s significant prevalence and negative impact on women’s health, wellness, and functioning, the literature demonstrates a lack of information regarding occupational therapy’s role in therapeutic intervention. The capstone project intends to contribute to an understanding of lipedema and to highlight the relevancy of evidence-based occupational therapy interventions for this population.
