WHAT IS CELLULITE AND WHY IS IT MORE COMMON IN WOMEN?

Cellulite is simply plain old fat asserting itself. Much of the body’s fat is stored directly beneath the skin, where strands of connective fibres separate fat cells into compartments. When the cells increase in size, they bulge out of these compartments, giving the skin a crosshatched appearance in some women. Whether you develop this condition or not depends mainly on the amount of fat in your body, the strength of the connective fibres and the thickness of the skin. In women, the fibres are taut, the skin is thin and the fat between fibres tends to bulge. In men however, the fibres are more flexible and the skin is thicker, so the fat is more evenly contained (hence men not that bothered with “getting rid of cellulite”}

By early adulthood the body has accumulated most of the fat cells it will ever have. Although people may subsequently gain a great deal of body weight, their fat cells generally do not increase in number, only in size, except in certain cases of obesity where the fat cells can proliferate.

WHAT CAUSES CELLULITE ON YOUR THIGHS AND YOUR BUM?

We inherit the number of fat cells we have in the third trimester of pregnancy, the first year of our life and in puberty and thanks to Mother nature and indeed genetics, many women will have more fat reserves in this area as a protective measure for the childbearing years.

DO TOPICAL CREAMS WORK TO GET RID OF CELLULITE ON YOUR THIGHS AND BUM?

Unfortunately you cannot get rid of cellulite with special creams or lotions promised by so many marketing companies. Body brushing is also touted as an effective way to get rid of cellulite and although I certainly advocate body brushing for health and in particular lymphatic drainage, it won’t get rid of cellulite because it is simply fat bulging between the fibres.

WILL EXERCISE AND DIET GET RID OF CELLULITE?

The only way to get rid of cellulite is by decreasing the size of the fat cells. The best way to accomplish this is through consuming a proper diet and engaging in a comprehensive exercise programme.