States, at the Mayo Clinic, in 1940. Most attribute the original identification of lipedema to E. A. Hines and L. E. Wold (1951). In spite of that, lipedema is barely known in the United States to physicians or to the patients who have the disease. Lipedema often is confused with obesity or lymphedema, and a significant number of patients currently diagnosed as obese are believed to have lipedema, either instead of or in addition to obesity. See also Lymphedema Steatopygia Adiposis dolorosa Lipodystrophy References External links Diseases of veins, lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes Women's health Medical controversies