Research has identified two types of cellulite. The first type of cellulite is from any ‘pinch’ or ‘compression’ of tissue in the thighs or buttocks. An example of this is when you see the ‘mattress’ look in your thighs when crossing your legs while seated. This is very gender-typical to almost all women of various ages, and is suggested to be the compression of the fat-cell chambers underlying the skin. The second type of cellulite is the ‘orange peel’ appearance that a woman may have in her natural stance or when lying down, which is referred to as cellulite.
Do You Have to be Fat to Have Cellulite?
Since cellulite is largely due to a structural conformation below the skin, it is often common in very slender women. However, individuals who are over-fat will frequently have a more pronounced cellulite development, while those with less fat and more muscular definition tend to have less visible cellulite.
Why Does Cellulite Tend to Get Worse as You Age?
In women, the dermis reaches its maximal thickness at 30 years of age. Secondly, the dermis area, which is bound together by the connective tissue starts to get looser, due to the aging process of the collagen and elastic fibers. This allows for more adipose cells to protrude into the dermis area, accentuating the sight of cellulite. In addition, an increased deposition of subcutaneous body fat may often reflect a lifestyle of less exercise and changes in dietary consumption.
Why is Cellulite More Prevalent in the Thighs and Buttocks?
It is well established that women generally have a higher percentage of body fat than men. For instance, a healthy range of body fat for women is 20-25%, and a healthy range of body fat for men is 10-15% (Robergs and Roberts, 1997). The thighs and buttocks of women tend to store more of this body fat. This type of fat deposition is characteristically termed gynoid, or pear shape. Body fat is stored largely due to the actions of an enzyme know as lipoprotein lipase (LPL). LPL is located on the blood vessel walls throughout the body. It functions like a ‘regulatory’ enzyme, which controls the distribution of fat in various depots in the body (Pollock & Wilmore, 1990). It has been shown that women have a higher LPL concentration and activity in the hip and thigh region (Pollock & Wilmore, 1990).
Why Don’t You See Cellulite in Young Females (Healthy and Over-Fat)?
Young females will clearly have the ‘pinch’ or ‘compression’ cellulite, as this is due to a structural mechanism. However, the cellulite seen while standing or lying down is often not apparent in young females. Although there is very little scientific research in this area, it is hypothesized that hormonal changes during puberty contribute to this phenomenon.
What are Some Common Myths and Misconceptions About Cellulite?
Numerous myths and misconceptions about cellulite have been popularized in print, media and the internet. Some of the most well known will now be clarified. First and foremost, cellulite is not a disease. As explained above, it is due to fat-cell chamber structure below the skin dermis. Secondly, although the skin is richly vascular with blood vessels, cellulite is not caused by damaged blood vessels. In addition, cellulite is not due to a weakening of capillaries or a decreased circulation in the subcutaneous area. Some sources have suggested that cellulite is a lymphatic disease or abnormal hormone condition, yet there is no scientific support for this contention. However, limitations to fluid movement and drainage may contribute to the appearance of cellulite. Also, hypotheses that cellulite is a result of the body’s lack of lypolytic responsiveness, which means ability to breakdown fat to be used as fuel, has not been supported by science.
Is Cellulite Hereditary?
Since the subcutaneous fat tissue structure is gender-typical to females, the question should actually be is fat deposition hereditary. Although the exact percentage is not fully clarified in the research, there is a meaningful hereditary component to fat deposition.
Do Women in All Countries Have Cellulite?
It appears that cellulite is observable in women of all races. Studies involving women from China, South Africa, Egypt, Brazil, United States, Canada, Mexico, Afghanistan, Russia, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia all report cellulite in women.
Why does Cellulite Affect Some People More than Others?
There is much variation in anatomy and skin anatomy from person to person. Women have unequal amounts of subcutaneous fat, as well as variable thickness and denseness of the dermis and epidermis skin layers.
Why do women who lose alot of weight still have cellulite?
The underlying fat-cell chambers do not change with a loss of weight. For optimal skin adaptation to weight loss, it is advisable for weight loss to be progressive and not extreme (such as repeatedly seen with fad diets). Also, skin elasticity is best up to the age of 35 to 40 years. Collagen and elastic fibers can retract best to lesser volumes (from fat loss) before this chronological age.