What exactly is cellulite? It's a condition that affects 90 percent of women and 10 percent of men, mostly in industrial nations. As women start approaching menopause, estrogen starts decreasing. From 25 to 35 is when you start seeing the appearance of cellulite.
Cellulite is more prevalent in people who have excess fat, but slim and fit people can have it too. It is more likely to happen after the age of 25 years, but it can affect younger people as well, including teenagers.
Cellulite is also more common with aging, when the skin loses elasticity. Weight gain can make cellulite more noticeable, but some lean people have cellulite, as well. It tends to run in families, so genetics might play the biggest role in whether you develop cellulite.
Genetics, sex, age, the amount of fat on your body and your skin's thickness determine how much cellulite you have and how visible it is. As you age, your skin loses elasticity and can make the appearance of cellulite more evident. Gaining weight can also make the appearance of cellulite more prominent.
As we saw above, young - even teenage - women can develop cellulite/skin laxity as much as older women. Sure the proportion of young women with cellulite/skin looseness is much smaller than that of older women, but some of them still do get them and there is no specific mystery about it.
Most of the contributing factors of cellulite are things you can't control, including skin structure, hormones, genetics, and age. However, weight changes, poor nutrition, dehydration, lack of muscle tone, smoking, and poor skin health are factors you have some control over and may worsen cellulite.
Losing weight and strengthening the muscles in the legs, buttocks and abdomen may make cellulite less noticeable in those areas, but it won't go away altogether. That is because once a fat cell develops, it is yours for life.
Distribution of Fat
And because women naturally have thinner skin than men do and tend to store fat on their thighs and buttocks, women are more likely to suffer from cellulite.
Cellulite is most common in women, and can be influenced by genetics, hormonal changes, a poor diet and inactivity, and it doesn't matter if you're overweight or not. Yes, 'skinny' people can have cellulite too.
In fact, most men cannot even “see” your cellulite, as they can't “see” your new haircut, dress etc.
Swings in hormone levels affect your collagen production and skin health. So does aging. Your skin becomes less elastic over time — mostly due to the lower hormone levels — and causes cellulite to appear as you get older.
Regular hydration with water also helps the body get rid of excess fat cells. The presence of cellulite indicates that there are too many fat cells in the body and because the adipose tissue needs to be bathed in lipids, it holds onto water. So we see how water retention and cellulite go hand in hand.
From 25 to 35 is when you start seeing the appearance of cellulite. Estrogen has an impact on the blood vessels. When estrogen starts to decrease, you lose receptors in blood vessels and thighs, so you have decreased circulation.
Strength training, especially exercises that target the thighs and glutes, may also help diminish the appearance of cellulite. Some experts recommend a daily cardio routine and two or three strength training sessions every week.
Exercise Smart
Get moving. It's one of the best treatments. It won't make your cellulite disappear, but strong muscles under lumpy areas can make your skin look more even. Try a three-part plan: a healthy diet, brisk exercise, and moves that tone your muscles.
Aerobic exercise
Weight loss can lessen the appearance of an individual's cellulite. Some common aerobic exercises include: walking. running.
So, no, squats do not get rid of cellulite, they only tone up the muscles of your butt. This muscle toning will end up in butt lifting, which is nice to have. But no cellulite reduction on the butt will directly occur due to squats.
Higher levels of estrogen (or poor estrogen metabolism) causes low levels of collagen, and therefore, increases the appearance of cellulite. Women with cellulite may be experiencing estrogen dominance, which is an imbalance in the ratio between estrogen and progesterone.
When these fat cells are depleted, there is less pressure. However, losing weight can sometimes make the appearance of cellulite worse. Lose skin, which often accompanies weight loss, can make cellulite more noticeable.
The constant fluctuation in weight can cause a pattern of stretching of the skin that may affect the skin's integrity. Weakened skin and connective tissue makes it easier for fat deposits to push through and promote cellulite. Nonetheless, maintaining a healthy and steady weight is always advised.