Next world congress: Melbourne, 11 to 14 November 2027

One world alliance for lipedema

Physicians, researchers and patient organisations working together for everyone living with lipedema: better diagnosis, treatment and recognition worldwide.

Become a member World congresses

21countries represented by board, founding members and member organisations
103founding members who built the alliance in 2022 and 2023
23board members from nine countries, physicians, researchers and patient advocates
3world congresses: Potsdam 2023, Rome 2025 and Melbourne 2027

Sources: LWA board and founders pages; Kruppa P. et al., Nature Communications 2026;17:427 (all 103 founding members were invited to the Delphi study).

From Potsdam to Melbourne

Every two years the lipedema community meets at the Lipedema World Congress. The third edition goes to Australia.

2023

Potsdam, Germany

1st Lipedema World Congress, 5 to 7 October. More than 500 participants from more than 35 countries.
2025

Rome, Italy

2nd Lipedema World Congress, 5 to 8 November. More than 870 participants from 40 countries.
371 days to go
until Melbourne 2027

2027

Melbourne, Australia

Lipedema World Congress III, 11 to 14 November 2027, Crown Conference Centre. Together with the Lipoedema Australia Conference VII.

lwc2027.com World congresses

Just held 13th ILF Conference and 10th ITALF Congress, Rome, 28 to 31 October 2026, in collaboration with the LWA

First page of the LWA Delphi consensus paper in Nature Communications, January 2026

Published in Nature Communications, January 2026

A shared definition of lipedema

At the first world congress in Potsdam, experts of the alliance voted on how to define, diagnose and manage lipedema. The position paper is the alliance's official position.

experts in the final round: 71
countries on five continents: 19
of 62 statements reached consensus: 59

Delphi consensus Read the paper on nature.com

I have, or think I may have, lipedema

Clear information on symptoms, diagnosis and care, based on the international consensus and current guidelines.

Information for patients

A researcher presents at the Lipedema World Congress 2025 in Rome

I treat or research lipedema

The Delphi consensus, guidelines at a glance, research networks and the next congresses.

Information for professionals

What the alliance does

Lipedema is still often missed or confused with obesity and lymphedema. The LWA connects the people who can change that.

A lecture hall full of participants at the Lipedema World Congress in Potsdam

Education and congresses

World congresses, webinars and teaching for physicians, therapists and patient advocates.

Panel of speakers at the Lipedema World Congress in Potsdam

Research agenda

Connecting research groups and registries so that open questions get answered.

Patient organisations at the table

National patient associations sit on the board next to surgeons, lymphologists and researchers.

A network across 21 countries

Board members, founding members and member organisations come from every continent where lipedema is treated and researched. Tap a country to learn more.

Members and countries

Countries represented in the alliance World congress cities

Germany
Italy
United States
Spain
Brazil
United Kingdom
Australia
Poland
Greece
Portugal
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Austria
Switzerland
Belgium
Hungary
Turkey
India
France
Colombia

From the blog

All articles

A lecture room at the Fiera di Roma, venue of the Lipedema World Congress 2025

For patients

What is lipedema? Symptoms, diagnosis and care options

Lipedema is a chronic, painful disease of the fat tissue in the limbs. What the 2024 S2k guideline and the LWA consensus say about symptoms, diagnosis and care.

4 November 2026 · 5 min read