Lipodystrophy is a condition caused by the loss of fat tissue from the body either due to a mutation in certain genes (congenital or familial lipodystrophy) or associated with other medical conditions (acquired lipodystrophy). Fat cells produce a hormone, leptin, which controls appetite and the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates in the body.
The loss of fat cells results in leptin deficiency which in turn results in metabolic abnormalities including severe insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia, and fatty liver disease. 1,2
