Cellulite---known in medical circles as gynoid lipodystrophy---is common in women because the thin, vertical bands of connective tissue women's bodies use to hold fat in place offer more space for spillover than the thicker, overlapping tissues men have. If you're hoping to lose cellulite by losing weight, it's important to understand the relationship between cellulite and weight loss.
Identification
Cellulite is associated with being overweight because it's caused when extra fat gets squeezed by the fibrous bands of tissue that hold it beneath your skin, causing lumps, bumps and dimples to appear in places where the fat bulges out. Cellulite most commonly appears on your legs and buttocks because those are areas where women tend to store extra fat, but cellulite can appear on any part of your body.
Significance
Maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the best ways to prevent cellulite, according to the editors of Fitness Magazine. Sudden bursts in weight gain or weight loss can strain the muscle tissues that keep fat in check and limit their effectiveness, making it easier for bulges and lumps to form.
Misconceptions
Though many people think cellulite is caused by fat, your proclivity to develop those dimples and lumps is actually caused by the strength and flexibility of the tissue cords that connect your muscles to the surface layer of your skin, explains MayoClinic.com. Some people's tissues can stretch to accommodate more fat than others, which is why even very thin people can have cellulite while some overweight people don't have any.
Considerations
Weight loss may make some cellulite less noticeable, but losing weight won't make cellulite completely disappear. In some cases, losing weight may make cellulite more noticeable, researchers at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital concluded. Their research, published in the journal "Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery" in 2006, showed that those most likely to experience a decrease in cellulite from weight loss are very overweight or obese women.
Expert Insight
While losing weight may help make cellulite less noticeable, there are other ways to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite. Creams containing caffeine can reduce fluid in your cells, making dimples and bumps temporarily disappear. Aerobic exercise can boost circulation so that cellulite is less noticeable.
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