Weight Loss Don’t Really Help with Cellulite Study Finds

Study finds that weight loss does not necessarily reduce the appearance of cellulite on the skin.

The medical term for cellulite is gynoid lipodystrophy which usually affects women. Cellulite appears like dimpling in the skin and has the likeness of an orange peel. Most women go to great lengths to reduce the appearance of cellulite. They use different cosmetic products and even undergo cellulite reduction procedures in plastic surgery clinics.

Cellulite is among the most investigated (non-disease) conditions because plenty of women seek interventions to reduce the severity of their cellulite skin. Cellulite is not fully understood at the cellular level which makes it more difficult for scientists to develop methods for its management and treatment.

In a study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, scientists monitored patients of weight loss programs which are medically supervised to find out whether weight loss plays a role in the reduction of cellulite. They use several different techniques such as ultrasound, x-ray absorptiometry and laser surface scanning to quantify cellulite on different stages of the study.

The study head author Lola K. Smalls stated that, “The majority of subjects had an improvement in cellulite with weight loss, but the condition worsened for others. Improvement was associated with significant reductions in weight and percentage of thigh fat, significantly higher starting body mass index, and significantly greater initial severity.”

She added that “Cellulite worsened with a significantly smaller starting body mass index, smaller reductions in weight accompanied by no change in percentage of thigh fat, and significant increases in tissue compliance.”

This could only mean that their study revealed that weight loss alone is not a solution to cellulite. The authors of the said study recommend that further research and experimentation be done to understand the causes and factors that lead to cellulite severity.

According to Dr Bijan Farah MD of http://rejuvenatemedical.com, “Cellulite plagues just about every woman on earth and most of them are eager to know whether there is a treatment that could help get rid of the dimpled appearance of the skin. This study only shows that weight loss can reduce cellulite is a misconception that may not be true for all cases.”

New developments in laser and radiofrequency technology have made cellulite treatment come a long way. It is important for patients to consult with their doctors first before deciding whether to undergo plastic surgery procedures or participate in weight loss programs.