Harishankar Prasad Harishankar Prasad Asked 4 months ago

Does lymphedema cause weight gain?

My mother-in-law has been suffering from lymphedema in her legs for a few years now. We've noticed she's also gaining weight despite not changing her diet much. Can lymphedema itself be a cause of weight gain?

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5 answers

Vikram Sethi Vikram Sethi Joined Jul 2026 4 months ago
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Yes, it absolutely causes a type of weight gain, but it is due to fluid accumulation, not actual body fat. The affected limb can become extremely heavy. You should see a specialist who can help you manage it with compression therapy.

Pooja Hegde Pooja Hegde Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

My aunt has been dealing with this, and she noticed a significant increase in the scale weight because of the fluid buildup in her leg. It can be really disheartening to see the weight go up, but remember it's just fluid, not fat. Please stay in touch with your doctor.

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Rohan Malhotra Rohan Malhotra Joined Apr 2026 4 months ago

Bro, yes, the fluid buildup makes the limbs super heavy, which definitely shows up on the weighing scale. It's not fat, but you need proper medical treatment to drain that fluid safely. Don't try to solve it with normal workouts.

Savitri Joshi Savitri Joshi Joined Mar 2026 4 months ago

Keep your legs elevated while sitting and try to reduce your salt intake, as it helps with the swelling. However, lymphedema is a serious medical condition and you must see a specialist doctor for proper compression sleeves and therapy.

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Rahul Verma Rahul Verma Joined May 2026 4 months ago

It basically causes intense swelling due to blocked lymph fluid, so the scale weight definitely goes up. My grandmother has it in her arm, and it looks much heavier than it is. Definitely get it checked by a doc to keep it under control.

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