Lose weight but the cellulite remains

Aug 16 2006

New research has dispelled the myth that by losing weight women can also lose the "orange peel" effect of cellulite.

Even more of a worry is the suggestion that by calorie-counting and chocolate denial some women could be making the cellulite worse.

Researchers say that cellulite is not specific to overweight people and while women who were significantly overweight looked better after losing a lot of extra fat, women who had less of a problem were most at risk of exacerbating the problem.

The study examined 29 women who enrolled in medically supervised weight loss programs including low-fat meals, liquid diets, medication, and bariatric surgery.

Seventeen patients experienced an improvement in the appearance of their cellulite, while 9 worsened.

The average weight loss was 30.5 pounds (range 2.3 - 102 pounds).

The patients with the biggest improvements were those who lost the most weight and lowered their percentage of thigh fat.

They also had a higher body mass index (BMI) to begin with and more severe cellulite.

Patients whose cellulite worsened started with a "significantly" lower BMI, lost smaller amounts of weight and had no change in percentage of thigh fat.

Skin elasticity after weight loss also played an important role in improving the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite worsened in those whose skin became significantly looser after weight loss.

The study concluded that losing weight had "variable effects" on the appearance of cellulite.

John Kitzmiller, a plastic surgeon and co-author of the study, says around 85% of women are affected by cellulite which is not specific to overweight people but excess weight may worsen the condition.

Kitzmiller says although the appearance of cellulite diminished for the majority of patients, weight loss did not totally eradicate the condition and dimples appeared to be permanent features that lessen in depth as the pounds come off.

The research is published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.