Journals / Akdeniz Tıp Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 12 Sayı: 1

Medical Nutrition Therapy in Lipedema: A Comparative Review of Current Dietary Approaches

Lipödemde Tıbbi Beslenme Tedavisi: Güncel Diyet Yaklaşımlarının Karşılaştırmalı İncelemesi

Büşra Hökelek(İNÖNÜ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ)0009-0001-5604-9765
Hakan Toğuç(İNÖNÜ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-8134-1151
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-07-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

It is anticipated that this study will contribute to the literature by bringing together current medical nutrition therapy methods.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:The aim of this review is to compare and evaluate different nutritional therapy approaches in the literature for the treatment of lipedema.
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Key Findings & Data:Lipedema is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by an abnormal and symmetrical increase in subcutaneous fat tissue in the lower extremities, often accompanied by ecchymosis, pain, and edema.
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Conclusion & Impact:It is anticipated that this study will contribute to the literature by bringing together current medical nutrition therapy methods.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:2025 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Lipödem · Beslenme tedavisi · Ketojenik diyet

Abstract

The aim of this review is to compare and evaluate different nutritional therapy approaches in the literature for the treatment of lipedema. Lipedema is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by an abnormal and symmetrical increase in subcutaneous fat tissue in the lower extremities, often accompanied by ecchymosis, pain, and edema. Current treatment approaches include physical therapy, surgery, psychosocial therapy, medical nutrition therapy, and lifestyle changes such as increased physical activity. The aim of medical nutrition therapy applied in lipedema is to minimize the risk of edema by bringing body weight within a healthy range, to alleviate significant lipedema-specific symptoms such as pain, hypersensitivity, ecchymosis, and edema by reducing the burden of body weight that puts pressure on the joints, and thus to improve the quality of life of the patients. Within the scope of this study, a literature search was conducted in PubMed and ScienceDirect for the past 5 years using the keywords “lipedema” and “nutrition” between January and February 2025. As a result of the searches, 8 studies that met the evaluation criteria were included. There is no evidence-based, lipedema-specific diet in the literature. However, recent studies have shown that both ketogenic (6 studies) and Mediterranean diets (2 studies) reduce lipedema symptoms such as pain and decreased quality of life. Current findings regarding the effects of a gluten-free diet are limited (1 study). It is anticipated that this study will contribute to the literature by bringing together current medical nutrition therapy methods.

Özet

Bu derlemenin amacı, lipödem tedavisinde literatürde yer alan farklı beslenme tedavisi yaklaşımlarını karşılaştırmak ve değerlendirmektir. Lipödem, alt ekstremiteler- de subkutan yağ dokusunda anormal ve simetrik artışla karakterize, sıklıkla ekimoz, ağrı ve ödemle görülen kronik ve ilerleyici bir hastalıktır. Güncel tedavi yaklaşımları fizik tedavi, cerrahi, psikososyal tedavi, tıbbi beslenme tedavisi ve fiziksel aktivite artışı gibi yaşam tarzı değişikliklerinden oluşmaktadır. Lipödemde uygulanan tıbbi beslenme tedavisinin amacı, vücut ağırlığını normatif sınırlar içerisine çekerek ödem riskini minimize etmek, eklemlere baskı uygulayan vücut ağırlığı yükünü azaltarak ağrı, aşırı duyarlılık, ekimoz ve ödem gibi lipödeme özgü belirgin semptomları hafif- letmek ve böylece hastaların yaşam kalitesini iyileştirmektir. Bu çalışma kapsamında, Ocak-Şubat 2025 tarihleri arasında PubMed ve ScienceDirect veri tabanlarında “lipödem” ve “beslenme” anahtar kelimeleri kullanılarak son 5 yıla ait bir literatür taraması gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yapılan taramalar sonucunda değerlendirme kriterleri- ne uygun olan 8 çalışma dahil edilmiştir. Literatürde kanıta dayalı, lipödeme özgü bir diyet bulunmamaktadır. Ancak son çalışmalar, hem ketojenik (6 çalışma) hemde Akdeniz diyetinin (2 çalışma) ağrı ve yaşam kalitesinin düşmesi gibi lipödem semptomlarını azalttığına dair bulgular sunmaktadır. Glutensiz diyetin etkileri ile ilgili ise mevcut bulgular sınırlıdır (1 çalışma). Bu çalışmanın güncel tıbbi beslenme tedavisi yöntemlerini bir araya getirerek literatüre katkı sağlayacağı öngörülmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Hökelek, B., Toğuç, H. (2026). Medical Nutrition Therapy in Lipedema: A Comparative Review of Current Dietary Approaches. Akdeniz Tıp Dergisi, Cilt: 12 Sayı: 1. https://doi.org/10.53394/akd.1665952

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