The Impact of Metabolic Status on Pain and Central Sensitization in Women With Lipedema: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Inclusion Criteria: * Being female and aged 18 years or older * Having chronic pain persisting for at least 3 months * Having sufficient cognitive ability to understand and respond to the assessment scales used in the study * Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study and providing written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of a history of malignancy, active infection, inflammatory rheumatic disease, or severe systemic disease * History of known neurological disorders (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy) * Diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder) * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Presence of cognitive impairment or communication difficulties that could affect the study results * Diagnosed diabetes mellitus * Active thyroid disease (uncontrolled hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism) * Cushing's syndrome or other significant endocrine disorders * Use of antidiabetic medications * Use of lipid-lowering therapy (e.g., statins, fibrates) * Systemic glucocorticoid use within the past 3 months * Use of medications that may significantly affect central pain mechanisms (e.g., high-dose opioids, antipsychotic drugs) * History of major surgery or invasive treatment for pain within the past 3 months