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Fat facts: how to reduce cellulite

Despite fear-mongering by the fashion industry over the dreaded 'orange-peel effect', cellulite is one of the most commonly occurring cosmetic blights. But as Sara Singer Schiff reports, it is also the most misunderstood

Whilst many view it as an alien life form that's landed on their thighs, bum and - occasionally (sigh) arms - cellulite, simply put, is nothing but fat. Specifically, it is subcutaneous body fat, or the top layer of fat just underneath the skin. Cellulite takes on its dimpled appearance when 'sunlight and a natural loss of oestrogen cause the skin to thin and lose its elasticity over time,' says Tom Sanders, a professor of nutrition at King's College, University of London.

'We all store fat underneath the skin,' he says,'and like a string net stretched over meat at the butchers, the skin acts as a net covering fat, which pokes through the pockets and forms dimples,' Professor Sanders explains. The truth is that men and women both suffer from cellulite's unsightly effects, but men tend to have less of it because they have more muscle and body hair and less body fat than women.

While cellulite-phobia has spawned a massive beauty industry of skincare creams promising to reduce, tighten and abolish this flabby, 'cottage cheese' look for good, don't be fooled. 'There are a lot of cellulite creams on the market, but while they may moisturise and improve the texture of your skin, they won't help you burn fat,' says iVillage fitness expert Josh Salzmann.

'Creams may increase blood flow to the cellulite-ridden area and help break up the fat, but it won't get rid of it,' adds Professor Sanders. He suggests that the negative perception of cellulite was created by the cosmetic and slimming industries to make women feel insecure about their bodies so that they'll spend more money on products.

So, is there a way to reduce the unsightly effects of cellulite, or do you have to live with it? 'Moderate exercise combined with sensible nutrition and adequate rest is the solution,' says Salzmann. He adds that the best exercises are based on a good resistance programme, such as yoga, Pilates, conventional strength training or a combination of all three. 'The goal is to isolate the muscles and build up lean tissue in both your big and small muscles,' he explains.

The reasoning behind this is that muscles require more energy than fat to function, so increasing your lean tissue raises your metabolic rate (the speed at which you burn calories). As a result you burn more body fat. Futhermore, even when your muscles are at rest, they require fuel to recover from exertion. So the more muscle you have, the more fuel you need - and the more calories you burn.

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