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Become a member

Members and countries

Physicians, researchers and patient organisations from 21 countries form the alliance. See where they are, who the founding organisations are and how to join.

Become a member
Patient representatives at a dinner during the Lipedema World Congress 2025 in Rome
Countries represented in the alliance World congress cities
  • 21countries
  • 23board members
  • 85founding members listed by name
  • 15founding organisations

Where our members are

Counted from the alliance's board and founders pages. Germany and Italy have the largest groups so far. Members come from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australia.

As of November 2026. Belgium appears in the Delphi expert panel (Kruppa et al., Nature Communications 2026), all of whose members are founding members, but not yet on the founders pages.

CountryBoardFounding membersFoundersOrganisationsOrgs
Germany 5 24 3
Italy 5 12 1
Spain 2 9 2
United States 2 9 2
United Kingdom 3 5 2
Portugal 1 6 1
Austria 0 7 0
Brazil 2 2 1
Australia 2 1 0
Poland 1 2 0
Sweden 0 1 1
BelgiumDelphi panel 0 1 0
Colombia 0 1 0
Denmark 0 0 1
France 0 1 0
Greece 0 1 0
Hungary 0 1 0
India 0 1 0
Norway 0 0 1
Switzerland 0 1 0
Turkey 0 1 0
Total238515

Founding organisations

Patient associations and professional organisations that founded the alliance, with the people who represent them.

Patient organisations

Organisations of physicians and health professionals

Three membership groups

The statute defines three groups of members. Patients take part through the national patient associations that represent them.

  • Individual membership

    Physicians, medical doctors and healthcare professionals, including researchers, who are dedicated to lipedema and related conditions.

    Takes part in the Members’ Assembly directly.

  • Organisation of medical doctors and health workers

    Scientific societies, clinical departments and research organisations of physicians and health workers dedicated to lipedema and related conditions.

    Represented by its legal representative or a delegate.

  • Patient association and charitable organisation

    National and regional organisations registered as not-for-profit, made up of patients, family members, caregivers or professionals.

    Represented by its legal representative or a delegate.

Become a member

Three short steps: who you are, your field and how we can reach you.

The online application and the membership fees will be published with the new membership process. This form is a preview of that process.

Read the statute

Who are you?

Choose the membership group that fits you.

Questions about membership

Who can become a member?

Membership is open to physicians and healthcare professionals (including researchers) dedicated to lipedema and related conditions, to organisations of physicians and health workers, and to national and regional not-for-profit organisations of patients, family members and caregivers.

Can I join as a patient?

Patients take part in the alliance through the national patient associations that represent them. You can find the member associations above. For information on the condition itself, see For patients, and always talk to a specialist about diagnosis and treatment.

How much does membership cost?

There is an annual membership fee, set by the Board of Directors. The amounts will be published with the new membership process. Please do not send any payment before your application has been accepted.

How is my application decided?

The Board of Directors decides on each written application by majority vote. If an application is not accepted, the board gives its reasons.

What can members take part in?

Members with a paid annual fee can take part in all activities of the alliance, vote at the Members’ Assembly and stand for election to the board. LWA members also receive a reduced registration fee for the Lipedema World Congress III in Melbourne.

Questions before you apply?

The secretariat of the alliance is happy to help with membership groups and the application.

Contact us