An interventional study of Ketogenic low energy diet and non-ketogenic low energy diet in Lipedema, sponsored by Helse Nord-Trøndelag HF. Completed at 2 sites in Norway. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-21.
Sponsored by Helse Nord-Trøndelag HF · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Lipedema is a female progressive fat disorder, characterized by a symmetrical increase in subcutaneous adipose tissue in the lower extremities with the exception of the waist. The condition is often misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed. The etiology is poorly understood. Affects about 11% of all women and may lead to pain and immobility. The pathophysiology may be related to sex hormones and inflammatory response. Lipedema fat has been reported not to respond to lifestyle changes or bariatric surgery, both in terms of weight loss and symptom reduction; including pain and quality of life. Clinical research on the effect of dietary interventions on lipedema does not exist, but a pilot study with a ketogenic diet showed a significant reduction in pain regardless of weight loss. The aim of the research project will be to investigate whether a ketogenic diet can be a treatment option for patients with lipedema. Therefore, a randomized controlled trial will be conducted to compare the effects of two diets. 1) energy-restricted ketogenic diet and 3) energy-restricted low-fat non-ketogenic diet for 8 weeks. Pain and quality of life will be mesured at start and immediately after the intervention. The hypothesis is that a ketogenic diet may reduce pain and improve quality of life.
Study design RCT comparing a low-energy ketogenic diet to a non-ketogenic low-energy diet (non-keto) in females with lipedema. This study was approved by the Reginal Ethical Committee (REK 93888) All participants have to provided written informed consent in line with the Helsinki Declaration, before entering the study. Participants will be randomized by block randomization with stratification by BMI categories.
Study population Females diagnosed with lipedema, aged 18-75 years old, and a BMI between 30-45 kg/m2, will be invited to participate in this study. Participants had to be diagnosed with lipedema by physiotherapists before inclusion. Inclusion criteria includs weight stability for the last three months (±3 kg).
Dietary interventions Diets were matched for energy (1200 kcal/day) and protein, but differed in carbohydrate (CHO) and fat content.
The dietary plans are adjusted with respect to food preferences, intolerances, and allergies. The participants will be asked not to change their physical activity levels throughout the study period.
Compliance Participants will have weekly follow-ups. Participants will be asked to fill out daily food records throughout the intervention period.
Ketostix will be used in the weekly follow-ups to measure urinary acetoacetate (AcAc). If the participants in the keto group were outside of ketosis, or participants in the non-keto group in ketosis, >2 times throughout the study period, they were excluded from the per-protocol (PP) analysis.
Outcome variables
The following variables were assessed at baseline and at the end of the intervention:
Anthropometrics and body composition Height and weight will be measured at baseline. Body composition will be assessed in fasting state with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis before and after the intervention..
Pain Pain will be assessed with the brief Pain Inventory. The participants rated their pain in a numerical rating scale (NRS), where 0 = no pain and 10 = Worst imaginable pain. The BPI assesses pain intensity: strongest pain, weakest pain, average pain, pain now, pain severity score using an average of pain intensity domains, and pain inference from daily activities, mood, walking, regular work, relationships, sleep and life joy. A pain inference score is also computed as the average of all pain inference domains.
Three different questionnaires are used to assess Quality of life. RAND-36. The Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-Lite) q and the Lymphoedema Quality of Life (LYMQOL).
85 studies on the registry are indexed under Lipedema; 32 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 70 is above the median of 35 across 42 interventional studies indexed under Lipedema.
Browse Lipedema studies →Helse Nord-Trøndelag HF is the lead sponsor of 27 studies on the registry; 5 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Ketogenic low energy diet for 8 weeks
Other: Ketogenic low energy diet
non-Ketogenic low energy diet for 8 weeks
Other: non-ketogenic low energy diet
Participants will follow a low energy diet, with 1200 kcal per day. Carbohydrates 75g (25E%), protein 60 g (20E%), fat 73 g (55E%) in 8 weeks
Participants will follow a low energy diet, with 1200 kcal per day. Carbohydrates 180g (60E%), protein 60 g (20E%), fat 27 g (20E%), in 8 weeks
change in pain intensity
A difference in mean pain score of 2 units on a continuous scale from 0 to 10 on a visual analog scale (VAS) is considered clinically interesting
Time frame: 8 weeks
change in quality of life
Likert Scale
Time frame: 8 weeks
Plan to share: No
Ran from Mar 2021 to primary completion in Jul 2023, 27 months.
Of 29 interventional studies with no phase under Lipedema, half reached primary completion within 15 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 31. This study's 27 months is above that.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Helse Nord-Trøndelag HF