If You Have Big Legs, You Might Need a Diagnosis
Challenging Assumptions about Women's Health.
We live in a society that places a significant emphasis on appearance, especially for women. Women are often held to high, even “perfect” expectations of how they should look. Our culture is quick to label women with big legs negatively with a weight stigma.
This belief has been taken to an extreme in that the medical industry, which has pathologized a woman with a larger body as “obese”. Medicine categorize women with big legs (and larger women in general) as unhealthy, and unwilling to care for themselves. and that the pathology of obesity can be rectified with restrive dieting and exercise (which doesn’t work anyway).
Medicine has completely disregarded the fact that women with larger legs and bodies who are have pain, fatigue, swelling, and mobility issues, might be grappling with a medical condition that goes beyond mere aesthetics, and should be looked at further than just correcting it with weight loss.
Challenging Assumptions
The notion that having big legs automatically equates to being overweight or unhealthy is simplistic and harmful to us.
Our bodies are incredibly diverse, and factors such as genetics, hormones, and underlying health conditions play a significant role in determining our physique.
Medical Conditions that Influence Leg Size
Lipedema is not the only medical condition that can result in larger legs. Several other conditions can lead to similar symptoms:
Lymphedema: This condition involves the accumulation of lymphatic fluid, leading to swelling in the arms and legs. It can be caused by genetics, surgery, infection, or trauma. Shockingly, lymphedema affects up to 15% of breast cancer survivors.
Venous Insufficiency: Poor circulation can cause fluid to accumulate in the legs, resulting in swelling. Venous insufficiency often stems from damaged valves in the veins, and it's more common in women. Approximately 10-15% of adults worldwide are affected by chronic venous insufficiency.
Hormonal Imbalances: Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or hypothyroidism can lead to fluid retention and subsequent leg swelling. PCOS, affecting about 5-10% of women of reproductive age, is particularly relevant.
Kidney Disorders: Kidney diseases can disrupt the body's ability to remove excess fluid, leading to edema (swelling) in various parts of the body, including the legs. Chronic kidney disease impacts about 10% of the global population.
Heart Conditions: Heart failure can result in fluid buildup, causing swelling in the legs and ankles due to the heart's reduced pumping efficiency. Heart failure affects over 64 million people globally.
The Emotional Toll
Society’s mainstream opinion of “healthy” can be brutal on the women who do not fit into that mold. Healthy looks like a young, thin, beautiful woman who attracts the male gaze. That is not healthy, that’s a toxic belief that creates angst.
Living in a society that glorifies the aesthetics of a specific body type or look can have profound psychological effects on women who do not fit the conventional mold.
Beyond living up to impossible expectations, women who are unfairly labeled as overweight leads to feelings of shame, low self-esteem, body dysmorphia, disordered eating, anxiety, and depression.
The Importance of Proper Diagnosis and Treatment
The first step towards addressing this issue is recognizing that women who have disproportionate body state, may indicate an underlying medical condition.
If you are concerned about your leg size and have other maladies, you should consult a medical professional who can accurately diagnose the cause of the discomfort.
Timely diagnosis not only helps manage the physical symptoms but also alleviates the emotional burden of feeling like we are failures.
Seeking Diagnosis and Support
If you're like me – facing assumptions about your leg size – it's essential to seek proper diagnosis and support. Consulting a medical professional who understands that can make all the difference. Timely diagnosis helps manage the physical symptoms, empowers us to challenge these harmful assumptions and embrace our bodies as they are.
Empathy and Education: A Way Forward
My journey with Lipedema has taught me that assumptions based on appearance can be painfully misleading. Big legs don't automatically mean being overweight because of a lack of impulse control when it comes to eating, or living an unhealthy lifestyle. It doesn’t mean that the woman doesn’t take care of herself.
Leg pain and a disproportionate body can be a sign of hidden medical conditions, whether it’s Lipedema or something else.
Supporting, understanding, and taking women seriously about their body complaints is the answer to this. We need to educate the medical profession that women should not be stigmatized about the appearance of their body. If medicine can break free from these harmful stereotypes, it will take a big step forward in getting women properly treated.
Remember, we're not defined by what others see on the outside. Our bodies are like unique canvases, each with a story to tell.
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Take care,
Michelle