A nutritious diet with just enough calories to maintain a healthy weight and getting regular exercise can help keep percent body fat down. It also keeps the body looking lean and trim. Cellulite can be a bit more difficult to control. However, the same steps that are taken to reduce fat in general may help reduce the appearance of cellulite. It may not be enough to completely eliminate it.
Identification
The term cellulite refers to pockets of fat that are located just below the surface of the skin. It tends to accumulate near the hips, thighs and buttocks, giving the skin a dimpled look. Having cellulite can occur in thin people as well, MedlinePlus says. In addition, those with thinner skin may notice cellulite more. In itself, cellulite is not a warning sign of disease unless accompanied by being overweight. Although diet and exercise can help, cellulite is hard to get rid of because genetics plays a role.
Diet
The best way to reduce the appearance of cellulite is to lose excess pounds if overweight. Reaching a healthy weight by cutting back on calories improves how the body looks -- including those areas that have cellulite. Being at a healthy weight and having a healthy percentage of body fat may help the skin look less dimpled. Because 1 lb. is equal to 3500 calories, to lose 1 lb. to 2 lbs. per week, it's necessary to create a daily deficit of 500 to 1,000 calories. To do this safely, it's important to have a balanced diet; including foods from all food groups, while controlling portion sizes. Still, weight loss alone doesn't completely eliminate cellulite, reports MayoClinic.com.
Exercise
Cellulite is created by connective tissue that separates fat cells into compartments. This allows the fat cells to protrude or bulge, creating the dimpled look. Reducing your percentage of body fat in general helps, but there is no exercise that directly targets cellulite. To reduce body fat, the American Council on Exercise recommends getting at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise at least three days a week. The goal is to work out at 70 percent to 80 percent of maximum heart rate. This should be combined with two to three strength-training workouts each week. Although aerobic exercise is important to lose body fat, strength-training each major muscle group to fatigue helps increase muscle mass, which will make the dimpled areas look more toned.
Considerations
There is no scientific evidence to back claims that creams, wraps, massage and other quick fixes can reduce cellulite. However, MedlinePlus suggests a nutritious diet, regular exercise and avoiding dehydration. When the body doesn't have enough water, the skin can become less toned and elastic. One sign of dehydration is skin that doesn't return to its position after being pinched. Sagging skin due to not getting adequate fluids may contribute to the dimpling effect. A general recommendation is to get six to eight 8-oz. glasses of water every day -- and more may be needed during intense exercise.
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