Lipedema is a condition where fat builds up in certain spots - usually your hips, butt, thighs, calves,arms and sometimes abdomen. Notice how hands and feet stay out of it? Yep, it plays favorites.

It often gets mistaken for being overweight or for lymphedema, but it’s its own thing (though it can eventually lead to lymphedema). And here’s the frustrating part: dieting and exercise don’t shrink these areas. You might slim down up top, but your lower body holds on tight.

Many women with lipedema also have a higher BMI, but this isn’t about willpower. It’s a real condition, and knowing that can be the first step toward feeling less frustrated and more in control.