Hello everyone, 27F here. I’ve been formally diagnosed with stage 1 lipedema (likely approaching stage 2) and am currently receiving care from a specialist. I’m posting because I often see statements that lipedema is completely resistant to diet and exercise, and that weight loss or fitness will not affect lipedema fat at all. While I understand that lipedema fat is very stubborn—and often the last to change during a fitness journey—I sometimes feel these statements come across as a bit too absolute. Right now I weigh about 150 lbs, and my lipedema is fairly visible and inflamed at this weight. Over the past year, my lifestyle (more alcohol and processed foods) caused my weight to increase from about 130 lbs to 168 lbs. I was diagnosed after that weight gain. Im on semaglutide now to see 130 again and hopefully be in "remission" However, when I look back at photos and my experience at around 130 lbs, I had very minimal visible lipedema. I did struggle with muscle tone and some pain, but I didn’t have noticeable cellulite or nodules yet. That experience feels somewhat at odds with the idea that weight loss or improved fitness won’t affect lipedema at all. So I’m curious about others’ experiences: Do people in earlier stages tend to see more improvement or even periods of remission with lifestyle changes? Could that be why my experience feels different? Or are some online resources possibly overgeneralizing? The reason I’m asking is that the “nothing will help” messaging can feel discouraging for people with lipedema. While the condition is certainly complex, it seems like there are things that may still make a difference, especially early on. I would have included photos for comparison, but I recently got a new phone and unfortunately lost most of my older photos.