What Is the Connection between Cellulite and Weight Loss?

The connection between cellulite and weight loss seems to depend heavily on the person in question. Sometimes, the appearance of cellulite will diminish with weight loss, and other times it won’t. For some people, weight loss actually worsens the appearance of cellulite. Generally, people don’t know how their cellulite will react to weight loss until they lose the weight. If a person finds there is no favorable connection between her cellulite and weight loss, she might look to other methods.

Cellulite is a term used to describe the dimpling appearance skin takes on when subcutaneous fat, or the fat just beneath the skin, becomes profuse. Typically, this fat increases as a person gains weight. It doesn’t always distribute evenly, which leads to the lumpy, bumpy appearance of cellulite. Cellulite can affect both sexes but women tend to experience cellulite more than men do. Though cellulite can appear in many parts of the body, the most common areas include the thighs, buttocks, and stomach.

Even though weight gain is not the only factor that causes cellulite, people often associate cellulite with added weight. Therefore, many people believe cellulite and weight loss should go hand in hand. The reality is that the relationship between cellulite and weight loss varies from person to person. For some, weight loss can help with reducing cellulite or at least diminishing its appearance. For others, weight loss can actually worsen the appearance of cellulite.

It’s important to note that the weight gain that helps cause the appearance of cellulite isn’t necessarily enough to cause a person to be overweight. In other words, people can be overweight with cellulite and people can be skinny with cellulite. For example, a skinny person can gain weight and still be considered thin. Still, that weight gain might cause cellulite to develop. For these people, cellulite and weight loss might have little or no relationship because the person might not have enough weight to lose to have an effect on cellulite.

People try a variety of methods for getting rid of cellulite. These methods might be in addition to weight loss, as a first response to early cellulite, or because weight loss didn’t work. Methods vary from mild measures like cellulite creams, moderate approaches like exercise, and more drastic measures like liposuction. For people who have tried diet and exercise but have seen no connection between diminishing cellulite and weight loss, measures such as liposuction might be the only successful methods. Typically, a cosmetic surgeon will talk with the person about all possible cellulite removal methods before scheduling any procedure.