Lipedema Self-Assessment Calculator

Guide: understanding your lipedema assessment

Lipedema (ICD-11 EF02.2) is a chronic disease of adipose tissue affecting approximately 11% of women. It is characterized by symmetric, disproportionate fat deposition in the extremities with sparing of hands and feet. This calculator combines validated clinical criteria to estimate your risk level.

Methodology

Our calculator fuses a validated 9-question questionnaire with Dr. Ibáñez clinical criteria and the S2k 2024 guideline. Each response is weighted according to its diagnostic relevance, producing an overall score from 0 to 100 that reflects the likelihood of presenting indicators compatible with lipedema.

Scoring Criteria

• Mandatory Criteria (35%): Bilateral symmetry, hands/feet spared, pain on palpation.
• Validated Questionnaire (35%): 7 symptoms from the screening questionnaire: easy bruising, heaviness, touch sensitivity, spontaneous pain, emotional impact, family history, and body disproportion.
• Clinical Signs (15%): Leg heaviness, persistent swelling, edema, Stemmer sign, nodular texture.
• Associated Conditions (15%): Family history, PCOS, endometriosis, hypothyroidism, insulin resistance.

Lipedema staging

The S2k 2024 guideline classifies lipedema into three stages based on tissue texture: Stage I — normal skin surface with small nodules in the subcutaneous tissue. Stage II — irregular surface with larger nodules (lipomas), visible indentations. Stage III — large masses of fatty tissue causing deformity. In all stages, lipedema is distinguished from lymphedema by the sparing of hands and feet (negative Stemmer sign), bilateral symmetry, and the presence of spontaneous or pressure pain.