From the Guidelines
Semaglutide is not recommended for the treatment of lipedema due to limited evidence of its effectiveness in this condition. While semaglutide has been shown to be effective in weight management and has been approved for the treatment of obesity 1, its use in lipedema is considered off-label and has not been specifically studied. Lipedema is a chronic disorder characterized by abnormal fat deposition primarily in the legs and sometimes arms, which is distinct from general obesity. The standard treatments for lipedema typically include compression therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, proper nutrition, exercise, and in some cases, specialized liposuction.
Some patients with lipedema who take semaglutide for weight management may report improvements in their lipedema symptoms, but this is anecdotal and not supported by high-quality evidence. Semaglutide works by mimicking GLP-1, a hormone that regulates appetite and food intake, potentially leading to weight loss 1. However, lipedema fat is often resistant to traditional weight loss methods, including medications.
The use of semaglutide for lipedema would require careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in rare cases, more serious complications. More research is needed to determine if GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide have specific benefits for lipedema beyond general weight management. In the absence of strong evidence, the current standard treatments for lipedema should be prioritized, and patients should discuss any potential off-label use of semaglutide with healthcare providers who understand both conditions. Key points to consider include:
- Limited evidence for the use of semaglutide in lipedema
- Potential benefits and risks of semaglutide in lipedema
- Importance of standard treatments for lipedema, such as compression therapy and manual lymphatic drainage
- Need for further research on the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists in lipedema.
From the Research
Semaglutide for Lipedema
- There are no direct research papers on the effectiveness of semaglutide for treating lipedema.
- However, studies have shown that semaglutide is effective for weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, which may be beneficial for individuals with lipedema 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- A study published in the Lancet in 2021 found that semaglutide 2·4 mg once a week achieved a superior and clinically meaningful decrease in bodyweight compared with placebo in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes 2.
- Another study published in Trends in cardiovascular medicine in 2023 reviewed data on the mechanism of action, weight-loss and cardiometabolic efficacy, and safety of semaglutide 2.4 mg/week for obesity, and found that semaglutide has demonstrated the largest weight loss of any obesity medication to date 3.
- A study published in Eating and weight disorders in 2025 found that semaglutide induces weight loss maintenance after 12 and 24 months of treatment in patients with obesity or overweight and diabetes 4.
- A randomized clinical trial published in JAMA in 2021 found that maintaining treatment with semaglutide compared with switching to placebo resulted in continued weight loss over the following 48 weeks in adults with overweight or obesity 5.
- A phase 2 trial published in the Lancet in 2018 found that semaglutide was well tolerated and showed clinically relevant weight loss compared with placebo at all doses in patients with obesity 6.