There are plenty of myths about cellulite, and some women are convinced that when the number on the scales goes down, their orange-peel skin will go with it. Myth or reality? To answer that, let’s first look at what sets fat, fat deposits and cellulite apart. We’ll then explore the real link between weight and cellulite, before looking at the everyday habits you can adopt to take care of your skin.
What is the difference between fat, fat deposits and cellulite?
Fat, or adipose tissue, is found all over the body. Everyone has it in greater or lesser amounts, whether they are overweight or not. It is soft, painless and serves three purposes: regulating body temperature, cushioning impacts (protecting the organs and bones) and storing energy. When we put on weight, fat can settle either on the upper body (known as an android body shape) or on the lower body (known as a gynoid body shape). It sits in the hypodermis, the deepest layer of the skin.
Fat deposits, which sometimes (but not always) take the form of rolls, are pockets of fat found in specific areas of the body, typically the love handles, the saddlebags or the lower tummy. These more established deposits are often associated with a lack of physical activity and/or poor eating habits.
Cellulite is a more complex phenomenon that mainly affects women, and the vast majority of them. It results from enlarged fat cells (adipocytes) combined with water building up in the tissues. It can sometimes be made worse by fibrosis, a stiffening of the support fibres in the dermis. It therefore takes several forms. It is also multifactorial: hormonal activity, genetics, stress, a sedentary lifestyle, an unbalanced diet, circulation issues and smoking can all play a part in its appearance.
Is cellulite linked to weight?
There is no clear-cut answer to that question. Here is why.
Cellulite affects at least 90% of women, whether they are curvy or slim, sporty or not. Body size therefore has little bearing on whether it appears, as it is mainly linked to how the female body works (hormonal fluctuations, from adolescence to the menopause) and how it is built (the number and location of adipocytes, the structure of the tissues).
What’s more, there is not just one, but several types of cellulite.
- Water-retention cellulite, for example, is nicknamed “slim women’s cellulite”. It is mainly caused by water retention, itself linked to poor venous and lymphatic circulation. So it has nothing to do with weight.
- Fatty cellulite, on the other hand, can affect slim women too, but is more common in curvier women. Why? Because it is often accentuated by an overly rich diet and/or too little physical activity.
- Finally, embedded cellulite, also known as fibrous cellulite, comes from a hardening of the collagen fibres surrounding the adipocytes. It also tends to go hand in hand with a generally unhealthy lifestyle, with a lack of exercise and overindulgence over the long term.
So, as you can see: weight and cellulite are not necessarily interdependent. You can be slim and still have orange-peel skin, just as you can gain a little weight without necessarily developing more cellulite than you already have.
Can weight loss make cellulite disappear?
Let’s tell it like it is right away: no, because when it comes to cellulite, nothing is simple.
Weight loss means a reduction in fat: the body draws on its fat reserves, wherever they are. Slimming down doesn’t necessarily shift stubborn, localised fat deposits either. Many women find they lose volume in their bust but keep their little tummy bulge, despite the pounds coming off.
When it comes to cellulite, seeing the number on the scales go down isn’t enough to make it disappear. It’s better to combine a balanced, healthy diet, regular physical activity and massage (lymphatic drainage for water-retention cellulite, pinch-and-roll for fatty cellulite). These habits are also worth keeping up over the long term.
“I lost all my cellulite”: how can that be?
Some women notice that their orange-peel skin has faded as the number on the scales has gone down. That doesn’t contradict what we’ve just said. Fatty cellulite is often accentuated by an overly rich diet and a lack of physical activity. These women have often changed their habits at the same time: it’s these new habits that really matter, more than the number on the scales.
Water-retention cellulite, on the other hand, isn’t linked to weight: it can still be visible on a slim woman.
So rather than focusing on an “ideal weight” to reach and hoping cellulite will vanish once you get there, it is better to readjust your overall lifestyle:
- eat a bit of everything, choosing foods that are as natural as possible, and cook your meals yourself;
- limit sugar, salt and saturated fats;
- exercise every week, for example with water sports;
- walk every day, a simple habit explained in more detail in our article on venous and lymphatic circulation;
- stop smoking;
- massage your skin every day, for example with our Anti-Cellulite Cupping Cup and our anti-cellulite massage oil.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get rid of cellulite?
There’s no single solution, as cellulite has many causes. It’s best to combine several everyday habits and keep them up over time. You’ll find them in the list of tips above.
How can I get rid of cellulite on my thighs?
The advice in this article applies to the thighs too; simply adapt your massage to your type of cellulite. If it’s saddlebags that bother you, our dedicated article on saddlebags gives more targeted tips.
How can I get rid of cellulite on my tummy?
First, check whether it’s really cellulite or a little tummy bulge, which is a localised fat deposit and can stay put even when your weight goes down. In both cases, the everyday habits described in this article are a good place to start.
What can I do about cellulite on my arms?
The general advice in this article applies to the arms as well. What matters most is sticking with these habits over time.
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- The mistakes you absolutely must avoid when trying to lose weight
- Stretch marks linked to weight loss
- Gaining weight for no reason: 8 common causes
Useful categories: All About Cellulite.
