Lipoedema is a chronic disease that causes an abnormal build-up of fat, primarily in the legs and, in some cases, the arms. It mainly affects women and, unlike obesity, does not easily improve with diet or exercise. It is often accompanied by symptoms such as pain, a feeling of heaviness, tenderness to the touch and a tendency to bruise easily. Many patients notice that, even when they lose weight, the size of their legs does not change.