Lipodystrophy is a medical condition characterized by abnormal or degenerative conditions of the body's
adipose tissue. ("Lipo" is
Greek for "fat", and "dystrophy" is Greek for "abnormal or degenerative condition".) A more specific term,
lipoatrophy, is used when describing the loss of fat from one area (usually the face). This condition is also characterized by a lack of circulating
leptin which may lead to
osteosclerosis.