Background: Lipedema is a chronic disorder characterized by disproportionate fat accumulation in the extremities, predominantly affecting women. Unlike obesity, lipedema might be associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic alterations despite often coexisting with overweight or obesity. Fat distribution plays a crucial role in metabolic differences, with gynoid fat in lipedema being associated with a lower risk of insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. The present study aims to compare biochemical parameters between women with lipedema and those with lifestyle-induced overweight/obesity. Methods: This study involved 108 women, including 53 with lipedema and 55 with lifestyle-induced overweight/obesity. Anthropometric measurements and body composition analyses were conducted, and biochemical parameters related to liver function, lipid profile, kidney and thyroid function, uric acid levels, and carbohydrate metabolism were assessed. Statistical comparisons were made between groups, and multivariate models were used to explore the relationships between disease type, metabolic parameters, and body composition. Results: Women with lipedema exhibited a more favorable metabolic profile than those with overweight/obesity. Dyslipidemia was observed in ~50% of the lipedema group, compared to nearly 70% in the overweight/obesity group. Impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance were significantly less prevalent in the lipedema group (18.9% vs. 43.6%, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Despite having a high BMI, women with lipedema demonstrate fewer metabolic alterations than those with overweight/obesity. Fat distribution, rather than overall adiposity, appears to influence metabolic risk. These findings highlight the need for targeted therapeutic approaches to lipedema, distinct from conventional obesity management strategies.

Early diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains a major clinical challenge. Periostin (POST) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) have been proposed as biomarkers of tubular injury and fibrosis. This study aimed to evaluate their utility as markers associated with CKD stage and their associations with renal function and proteinuria in children. Twenty-three children with CKD stages I–IV and 23 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum and urinary POST and KIM-1 were measured together with creatinine (CR), cystatin C (CysC), proteinuria, albuminuria, and urinary α1- and β2-microglobulin. Patients were classified as early stage (ES; CKD I–II) or late stage (LS; CKD III–IV). Serum and urinary POST and KIM-1, uPOST/CR, uKIM-1/CR, fractional excretion indices (FePOST, FeKIM-1), and UPCR were higher in CKD patients than in controls. Absolute biomarker concentrations did not differ between ES and LS and were not associated with eGFR, UPCR, UACR, or tubular protein excretion. In contrast, uPOST/CR, uKIM-1/CR, FePOST, and FeKIM-1 increased with CKD stage, were higher in LS than ES, correlated positively with CysC, and inversely with eGFR. FePOST and FeKIM-1 also correlated strongly with tubular protein markers. The FePOST/FeKIM-1 ratio was elevated in ES patients compared with controls and remained stable across CKD stages. Fractional excretion of POST and KIM-1 is associated with CKD stage and reflects ongoing tubular injury in children. The FePOST/FeKIM-1 ratio may represent a sensitive marker of early CKD.