Lipoedema: Symptoms, causes and treatments for condition affecting Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It’s a condition that only affects women, and while the NHS doesn’t know exactly how many are affected, Lipoedema UK estimates that up to one in 10 women have it. While it is a condition that affects body fat, because the fat cells in lipoedema are disordered, dieting and exercise do not affect it the same way those measures help with normal fat loss. Lipoedema UK says there is also a difference between cosmetic liposuction and non-cosmetic liposuction used to treat lipoedema, and that the cosmetic version could cause long-term damage to affected areas. The organisation suggests tracking symptoms and gathering as much information as possible about the condition before booking in with your GP, who may then refer you to a specialist service including a lymphoedema clinic - these specialist services can also help people manage lipoedema.