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What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is fat - honestly. So drop some pounds and you'll shift some cellulite. Try our weight loss tips.

Oh, if we had a penny for every column inch devoted to that mischievous demon cellulite, we'd be zillionaires. Orange peely dimples are incredibly difficult to shift, but not because they're some mysterious skin condition or bizarre freak of biology. Experts around the globe are pretty unanimous about one thing; cellulite is fat. Simple as that.

More specifically it's actually the top layer of fat, just beneath your skin, known as subcutaneous fat. When US scientists conducted tests on the dimpled skin we get on our bottoms, tummy and thighs, they discovered that it was exactly the same kind of fat as that found on the rest our body.

However, there's a reason why it looks different than the skin on the rest of your body. It comes down to the tissue that connects the fat to your skin and keeps it in place.

It's made from collagen fibres known as septae, which, in women, run in a kind of criss-cross fashion like honeycomb.

So far, so straightforward.

But when a woman gains weight, the fat cells swell, and the fat effectively bulges out between the fibres. Imagine what sausage looks like as it bursts out of its skin, or how stuffing can bulge out of an old mattress and you get an idea of what happens in your thighs and bottom. When the fat bulges out between the fibres, the result is those domed shaped dimples we know as cellulite.

The reason why we get it on our bottoms and thighs is because when women gain weight, Mother Nature ensures the extra fat goes on our thighs, bum and tum as all those pear-shaped women out there will testify. What's more, even women who are slim elsewhere can be afflicted by cellulite, thanks to the distribution of fat.

Fortunately, getting down to your ideal weight through diet and exercise means you'll shed the fat than causes cellulite.

Start by taking a long hard look at yourself. Could you shed a few pounds? Chances are, the answer is yes. UK statisticians tell us that nearly 50% of women in this country are overweight. Your GP, your gym instructor, or a (brutally honest) friend can also help assess your weight.

Or try working out your BMI (body mass index). Your BMI is basically your weight in kg divided by your height in metres squared. So if you are 10stone 4lbs (65 kilos) and 5'4" (1.62m), your bmi is just under 25.

(65 divided by (1.62 x 1.62) = 24.8)

You can check out your BMI according to the following ranges, as used by the World Health Organisation:

Less than 18.5 - underweight

18.5-24.9 - healthy weight

25-29.9 - overweight

30-34.9 - very obese

35-39.9 - very obese

40 or more - extremely obese

If your BMI is more than 25, it's time to shift some fat.

Start small. Make some changes to your diet, such as cutting down on your fat intake, and swap processed, refined carbs such as white bread and cakes for wholegrains. Start taking gentle exercise, aim for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least three times a week. Brisk walking is a good place to start.

Try these five golden rules today to kickstart your weight loss:

Eat breakfast - as long as it's not a fatty fry up. Experts have found that dieters who eat a high fibre breakfast lose more weight than dieters who skip breakfast.
Make sure you get your five portions of fruit and veg a day. Make them a priority before you eat anything else - you'll feel fuller already and will get more nutrients into your diet.
Never say never to treats. Depriving yourself of your favourite foods often makes you want to rebel - and you can end up bingeing. Instead, just have a tiny amount and use a teaspoon instead of a dessert spoon. Learn to savour instead of scoff.
Eat snacks; yes honestly! Eating healthy snacks - fruit, pitta breads and hummous, nuts and yoghurt helps keep your blood sugar levels steady - you'll never get hungry, so less likely to reach for cakes and chocolate. Aim to eat a low fat snack every two hours.
Watch your portions: some people swear they eat healthily yet never lose weight. Huge portions may be the problem. You should be aiming for no more than a fistful of carbs and protein at one meal. But fill up with plenty of veggies.


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