The Board of the International Lipoedema Association (ILA) has unanimously endorsed the renaming from lipoedema to lipalgia syndrome, supporting a growing international movement towards terminology that better reflects current scientific evidence.
The shift began in 2023 when Lymphoedema Wales adopted the term lipalgia syndrome. Since then, the Földi Clinic – European Centre of Lymphology in Germany and, most recently, Klose Training in the United States have followed suit.
Placing Pain at the Centre
According to the ILA, the change reflects a growing body of evidence demonstrating that the condition is neither an oedema nor a lymphatic disorder. Rather than referencing a mechanism that current research does not support, the term Lipalgia Syndrome emphasizes the condition’s defining clinical symptom: pain.
“I’m pleased that the renaming reflects the stance of the entire board of ILA. The scientific evidence is overwhelmingly clear. The condition is neither an oedema nor a lymphatic disorder. Lipalgia Syndrome removes a misleading mechanism from the diagnosis and instead reflects its defining clinical symptom: pain,” says Gabriele Erbacher, President of the International Lipoedema Association.
The ILA believes the terminology change is an important step towards clearer communication, better science, and more appropriate care for people living with the condition. While the name is changing, diagnosis, coding, and access to treatment remain unchanged.
As awareness grows and more organisations adopt the new terminology, the ILA hopes the shift will contribute to a more accurate understanding of the condition among healthcare professionals, researchers, and patients alike.
Learn more about the renaming: https://klosetraining.com/2026/08/exciting-update-renaming-lipedema-to-lipalgia-syndrome/
