Is there a loss of fat in various parts of the body? Could this be Acquired Lipodystrophy?

Has your or your child's body suddenly lost fat, especially under the skin, and those areas look saggy? Or has the fat on your face and hands suddenly disappeared, giving you an older look? If other health problems arise in the body along with these changes, it may be due to the condition we are talking about today.

Simply put, what is Lipodystrophy?

Lipodystrophy is a problem that occurs in the way our body uses and stores fat. If it is not something that is present at birth, we call it 'Acquired Lipodystrophy'. This means that this condition occurs for some reason during our life. This mainly affects the layer of fat under our skin. Therefore, a person's appearance can completely change. Also, this is not limited to appearance, it can also cause several health problems inside the body.

Some people with HIV can also develop this condition (LD-HIV). It may be caused by the medications they take or the disease itself.

Let's look at the other main types.

Both AGL and APL are usually three times more common in girls than boys. This can cause a child to lose facial fat and look much older than their actual age . This can be very distressing for both the child and the parents.

When fat is lost, this leptin hormone also decreases. Not only that, fat begins to accumulate in places like the blood, heart, liver, and kidneys. This can lead to serious complications like diabetes, high cholesterol, liver disease, and kidney failure .

Why is this happening? (Reasons)

Often, even doctors have difficulty finding a specific cause for this condition. However, several factors have been identified that may contribute to its occurrence:

• An infection: This condition can occur after an infection such as measles, pneumonia, infectious mononucleosis, or hepatitis.
• Autoimmune disease: This can occur when the body's own immune system attacks the body's own fat cells.
• Continuously injecting or applying pressure to the same spot: The best example is people who take insulin for diabetes. If you inject yourself in the same spot every day, over time the fat around that spot will melt and form a small pit. That's why doctors always say to change the spot where you inject insulin every day.
• Some accident or injury.

What are the symptoms of this?

All of these types cause a loss of body fat, but it varies from person to person. Depending on which type your child has, the symptoms will vary.

AGL (Total Body Fat Loss)

These children have almost no fat under the skin on their faces, arms, legs, hands, and sometimes even the soles of their feet. This gives them a muscular appearance and makes their veins stand out . These children are constantly hungry, and they grow up quickly.

APL (Upper Body Fat Reduction)

In this case, fat loss starts from the face. Then it gradually spreads to the neck, arms, and chest area. The lower body is usually not affected.

Localized (fat loss in one place)

This looks like a small hole in the skin. There may be more than one of these holes. Sometimes there may be pain or painful lumps in these areas.

How does a doctor diagnose this?

When you go to see a doctor, he will do a complete physical examination and ask you and your child a few questions.

• What symptoms have you seen?
• When did you first notice these changes?
• Is this change in appearance only in a few places on the body, or is it all over the body?
• Have you developed any swollen lumps or red bumps under the skin (panniculitis)?
• Do you have diabetes? Have you recently had your blood sugar and cholesterol levels checked?

The following tests can be done to confirm the diagnosis:

• Skin biopsy: A very small piece of skin is taken and examined under a microscope.
• Body fat measurement tests: Skinfold thickness measurements or special X-ray and MRI scans can help determine how body fat is distributed.
• Blood tests: Blood sugar, kidney function, cholesterol, liver enzymes, and uric acid levels are checked.
• Urine tests: Check for any kidney problems.

How is it treated?

Unfortunately, there is no way to regrow lost fat. Therefore, the main goal of treatment is to prevent complications that may arise from the disease. To this end, it is extremely important to follow a healthy lifestyle.

• Diet: Everyone with this condition should follow a low-fat diet . However, if it is a child, you should also be careful to ensure that they are getting the right amount of calories and nutrients for their growth. It is best to consult a nutritionist about this.
• Exercise: Exercise can help control blood sugar levels and prevent dangerous fat deposits in the body.
• Medications: People with AGL can be given a shot called metreleptin (Myalept) to replace the missing leptin hormone. Statins and omega-3 fatty acids can help control high cholesterol. If you develop diabetes, you may need to take insulin or other medications.

How to support a child mentally?

Because this disease directly affects appearance, it is very important to give the child love, kindness, and mental strength in addition to giving medication.

1. Be a role model: Always stay positive. If someone asks about your child, explain the situation calmly and simply.

2. Build your child's self-esteem: Instead of constantly talking about your child's appearance, praise their talents, abilities, and good qualities.

3. Encourage friends: However, children are different. Sometimes, they may hear bad words from other children and feel left out. Teach your child in advance how to deal with such situations.

4. Seek professional counseling: Both the child and the family can seek the help of a counselor to manage the stress that comes with facing this challenge.

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