LIPEDEMA DISEASE LINKED TO FAMILY HISTORY 3 independent studies find lipedema is an inherited condition. As reported by The Cleveland Clinic [#} on its website, the exact cause of lipedema is unknown, but the condition runs in families and may be inherited. This statement is supported by three independent studies conducted by leading research teams in Europe who validated lipedema is a genetic condition. Lipedema appears to primarily affect females, presumably driven by estrogen as it usually manifests at puberty. Lipedema disease is different from obesity and is often misdiagnosed