The most effective form of treatment for cellulite is a combination of diet and exercise, according to the Mayo Clinic. These two factors can often cause weight loss and tone the muscles of the thighs and buttocks--both of which help reduce the dimpling of the skin associated with cellulite.
Diet
It's not enough to just cut calories to create the caloric deficit needed to shed excess pounds. A healthy diet is the best way to achieve results. Plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains can reduce your caloric intake while maintaining proper nutrition as you lose weight. However, choose healthy foods you can live with for the long term. The constant loss and gain of weight associated with yo-yo dieting can contribute to cellulite, according to the National Institutes of Health. Once you've lost the weight, maintain it so you don't worsen dimpling of the skin.
Exercise
As you modify your diet, it's also essential to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Exercise not only encourages weight loss, but it also helps strengthen and tone areas affected by cellulite. Stair climbing, leg extensions, squats and lunges can all target the thighs and buttocks and help to improve the appearance of cellulite. These strength-training activities can be combined with aerobic exercise to defend against cellulite, according to TeensHealth.org, a website from the Nemours Foundation. Aerobic exercises like swimming, biking, running, dancing and cross-country skiing are popular options. Start with at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week.
Caloric Deficit
By combining a healthy diet with regular exercise, you can create what is known as a caloric deficit. To lose 1 lb. of fat, you need to create a caloric deficit of 3,500 calories, according to the National Institutes of Health. Broken out over the course of a week, it works out to a caloric deficit of 500 calories a day. Every seven days, you lose 1 lb. of weight, helping to reduce the dimpling of the skin.
Cosmetic Procedures
If diet and exercise fail to provide desired results, there are a couple of medical systems showing some promise. The Mayo Clinic suggests either laser therapy or radiofrequency therapy. Both systems use vigorous massage coupled with laser energy or a combination of radiofrequency and infrared light. Twice-weekly sessions over several weeks can improve cellulite for upward of six months. Subsequent treatments are necessary to maintain results.
Prevention/Solution
While there's no proven method of preventing cellulite, since genes play a significant role in its development, you can reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, reducing stress and avoiding hormonal contraceptives, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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