Your search

Resource type

Results 2 resources

  • Knowledge of both the morphology/ pathomorphology and physiology/pathophysiology of adipose tissue is limited and the behaviour of fat tissue has not been widely researched. Changes in adipose tissue (hyperplasia, hyper trophy and atrophy) are defined differently and, as a consequence, diagnostic failures frequently occur. Figure 1 shows the complicated regulatory mechanisms which are responsible for lipolysis and lipogenesis. Even if body weight is normal, appearance depends on the distribution of subcutaneous adipose tissue (Figure 2). The amount of fat we carry and how we look are, in part, subject to fashion. What was still sexy several decades ago, a bigger waist and more on the hips, no longer corresponds to how we see perfection today. Figure 2 shows the different ideals of beauty — ‘Wonderwoman’, for example, where you can detect as little fat as possible. Recently, there has been a mania for slimness. In order to comply with the current trend in fashion, young girls starve or undergo surgical procedures to have the typical female fatty tissue removed.

  • ipoedema is a disease characterised by an abnormal, circumscribed accumulation of subcutaneous fat, mainly in the lower extremities, in combination with oedema. This results in an obvious disproportion between the upper and lower half of the body, as well as pain (Figure 1). Although lipoedema was first described in 1940 by Allen and Hines in the United States of America, the discussion still continues today as to whether this disease really is an entity, with some clinicians even doubting that it exists. In the 1940s it was described as a symmetrical subcutaneous deposition of fat in the buttocks and lower legs, together with an accumulation of fluid that begins almost imperceptibly, progressing gradually. Lipoedema was often associated with weight gain and accentuated by orthostatic activity. There are still aspects of lipoedema that are poorly understood. However, what we do know is that lipocytes, capillaries and venules are involved. An increased number and/or size of lipocytes results in increased fat volume, increased permeability of the capillaries causes oedema, and increased fragility of venules leads to haematoma (Table 1). Oedema is the main and most obvious cause of pain in people with lipoedema, so conservative therapy which reduces oedema can lessen the pain suffered. There are probably other factors causing pain, but oedema seems to be the most obvious. Lipoedema only develops in adult females. Figures 2a and 2b show the same patient at different ages. In most cases, lipoedema starts after puberty, a time when women want to look slim and beautiful. Figures 3a and 3b show the legs of a girl at the age of 17 and then 10 years later. The increase in volume can be seen mainly in the thighs. For some people lipoedema continues to progress until the end of life and is accentuated by pregnancy, birth and other hormonal changes, such as the menopause. In others, it remains at a steady level without progressing. The disease can also develop later in life. Figures 4a and 4b show a patient’s arm at the age of 51 and 10 years later. The forearms have stayed the same, while the upper arms have dramatically increased. It is not known why only the upper part of the arm is affected and the lower part remains unchanged.

Last update from database: 3/12/25, 8:25 AM (UTC)

Explore

Topic

Resource type

Online resource