PETITIONRejectedPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Recognise lipoedema as a serious disease and act across NHS and education
Recognise lipoedema as a distinct chronic disease. Train all NHS staff to diagnose and treat it. Include it in school health education. Update national policy so it's no longer mislabelled or ignored, and ensure healthcare providers understand the pain and appropriate terminology and the impact.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
12
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 12/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 12/100,000
Background
Lipoedema affects 1 in 10 women that’s over 3.9 million in the UK and it can also impact men and non-binary people. It causes pain, swelling, immobility and emotional harm, yet it’s barely mentioned in NICE guidance, has no care pathway, is often misdiagnosed as obesity, and isn’t consistently recorded. Other countries recognise and fund care. UK patients self-diagnose via Instagram and often pay thousands abroad. We need recognition, early diagnosis, NHS support and to stop being left behind.