Thread: Cellulite 'worse' after dieting

Cellulite 'worse' after dieting

Around 85% of women have cellulite
Losing weight may actually make cellulite worse, a study suggests.
Around 85% of women have cellulite - with celebrity magazines delighting in spotting famous women with tell-tale "orange peel" dimples on their thighs.

US plastic surgeons monitored 29 women who lost weight, and found slimmer women who lost little weight and had looser skin had worse cellulite.

British plastic surgery experts said cellulite was "a fact of life" and that there was no cure.

Cellulite, which can develop on the stomach, thighs and bottom, is caused in the bands of fibrous tissue which connect muscles to skin.

When fat, fluids and toxins are trapped beneath the skin, the bands become hard and tight and the fat is compressed. It is this which causes the dimpling effect.

Age can make skin layers look thinner, and so cellulite looks worse.

Methods suggested to reduce the dimples include exercising and drinking plenty of water.

But millions of pounds are spent each year on creams, patches and other products which claim to get rid of cellulite.

Skin elasticity

This study was carried out by researchers from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The women were all enrolled in medically-supervised weight-loss programmes including eating low-fat meals, liquid diets, anti-obesity medication and surgery - gastric bypass and gastric banding - were studied.

Cellulite is simply part of life

Douglas McGeorge, British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons


Their body mass index (BMI) - which indicates if someone is a healthy weight - was measured before and after their weight loss programme or surgery.

The average weight loss was 30.5lb, but the amounts lost ranged between 2.3lb and 102lb.

Out of the group, 17 saw an improvement in the appearance of their cellulite while nine found it get worse.

Patients who saw the biggest improvements were those who lost the most weight and so lowered their percentage of thigh fat.

They had a higher BMI at the start of the study, and more severe cellulite.

The women whose cellulite worsened were those who had previously had a significantly lower BMI, lost smaller amounts of weight and had no change in percentage of thigh fat.

How elastic their skin was after weight loss was also crucial, as cellulite became worse in those whose skin became significantly looser after weight loss.

John Kitzmiller, a plastic surgeon and co-author on the study, said: "Cellulite is not specific to overweight people but excess weight may worsen the condition.

"We found that weight loss in overweight patients improved the appearance of cellulite, but for a few it actually worsened the condition.

"Although the appearance of cellulite diminished for the majority of patients, weight loss did not totally eradicate the condition.

"The dimples appear to be permanent features that lessen in depth as the pounds come off."

The researchers said more research needed to be carried out.

Douglas McGeorge, president-elect of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, said: "Cellulite is simply part of life. There is simply no cure for it yet."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4797317.stm

Thanks, that is a great article...I had to run and look at my legs in a mirror and my bottom and I would think that in my own opinion, will have to check with husband but I feel this diet has helped the appearance of my skin.

I don't have any orange peel skin...

I've never really suffered from cellulite: just fat!

Now that the fat is being burned off, what's being left behind is more wrinkly than cellulite-y. Whatever way I look at it, I'm never going to look fab in swimwear: ce la vie - I'll just have to live with it!

There must be something you can do about cellulite, isn't there?

Hi Zareena,

I never took the contraceptive pill, but my sisters did...they have cellulite and I don't, I always drank lots of water and also I did not drink much alcohol down the years, but I have ate tons of carbs

I often wonder is that got anything to do with it, or is it all the dry brushing I do and massage???

My skin however did look different when I was at my biggest, but a couple of months on the diet it went back to looking clear and it is excellent now. Actually I would say within six weeks my skin was glowing on vlcd.

I had psoriasis on my hands and wrists and elbow very bad before starting the diet and my hands are pefect no itch and the redness is gone, elbows fine, just on my wrists, but has not got worse.

It was acting up again when I was eating carbs...now that I am back on CD it has settled.

Love Mini xxx

Hi Mini,
So CD must help in some sort of way. I have to say, i normally get lots of spots but while on CD my skin is always nice and clear.. I think it must have something to do with having 100% of vitamins everyday and the amount of water we drink while on CD! I don't have any cellulite.. not that I know of anyway (I could be in denial mind you..LOL) so I'm hoping that if I do/don't CD will help in some sort of way!

Hi Zareena,

I do feel that it has to do with all the vitamins being in the right balance for the body...mine anyway...seems to suit me.

Have you noticed that your skin gets very soft and smooth to the touch...my husband love it

Never had cellulite of course, but have noticed my skin did improve while I was sole sourcing.

One other thing, which is not meant to be patronising, so please don't take it that way.........deep breath, here goes.

In my opinion, the only person why cares about cellulite is the lady who has it and generally thinks it is 20 times worse than it is. Belive me, most men are looking in other places.

It's like wrinkly or saggy skin in a way. We look in the mirror and think we see a terrible situation, other people rarely see the same thing.

Do you really think I could continue being a male escort if my skin was half as bad as I think it might be.

Awww Brad!! Bless your trendy, 'Next' cotton socks!!

Your so right Brad...

But the thing men don't get we don't do it for them...

We are more concerned what other women think of us lol

I remeber asking my hubby if he would still fancy me when I am thin and extremely saggy and his response was 'cor yeah' which was very reassuring because he never lost his 'enthusiasm for me even at my biggest even though I kept pushing him away due to lack of confidence

Originally Posted by Mini

Your so right Brad...

But the thing men don't get we don't do it for them...

Yeah you do really......don't ya.