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This is a subject that concerns most women , where a women's vanity is concerned, cellulite could be compared to leprosy. It can make you feel fat, frumpy and wearing a pair of shorts is a definite no-no.
Some doctors still do not recognise cellulite, but with the growing sales in jars of anti-cellulite cream being sold at £25 a throw, someone believes in it, or should I say that's what we have been made to believe! Who knows what's in the jars, you could most probably do just as good a job with Johnson's baby lotion.
Can you imagine these poor desperate ladies massaging their thighs morning and night trying to get rid of the dimples and lumps, with the image of Cindy Crawford's thighs and buttocks in their minds - I rest my case.
Who knows, the term 'Cellulite' could have been invented purely to provoke unnecessary feelings of guilt and low self-esteem in women, in turn making a nice hefty profit for the manufacturers. (Surely not? - Ed.)
If it actually exists - What is it?
Apparently, the term cellulite was coined by French doctors for what they believe to be a special kind of lumpy looking fat. It usually affects a women's thighs bottom, and sometimes the upper arms and lower part of the abdomen.
Many naturopaths, beauticians and manufacturers of various cellulite creams, claim that cellulite is caused by a build up of toxic waste matter in the body tissues, due to poor diet that is high in refined and processed foods, and low in fresh fruit and vegetables. The resulting pockets of water, fat and impurities are said to give the skin a dimpled appearance, which is often referred to as the 'orange-peel' effect. This dimpled skin becomes more noticeable if an affected area is bunched up by pinching it around the edge. Naturopaths usually recommend people with cellulite to go on a detoxifying diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and to cut out, tea, coffee and alcohol.
Does it really exist?
While the word cellulite has been adopted as a simple term for this dimpled skin, the theory that it is a form of 'internal pollution' is not supported by any sound medical evidence. Most doctors and scientists agree that the dimpled fat is just ordinary fat, and that toxins have nothing at all to do with this entirely natural process.
The reason why so many women - even slim women - suffer cellulite on their hips and thighs, is because the female hormone oestrogen makes women acquire fat there; and they store more of this fat just under the skins surface, whereas men store some of their fat internally, underneath muscles. After the menopause, women deposit more fat on the upper parts of their bodies, but this tendency can sometimes be reversed by hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and as women grow older, surface skin becomes thinner and less elastic, and the dimpling becomes more exaggerated. Cellulite is therefore a natural characteristic of the female body and - while it may be distressing for those women who have it - it does not cause physical harm.
It is worth noting that the dimpling effect may be made worse by sunbathing, since excessive exposure to sunlight is known to cause the skin to lose its elasticity.
Liposuction, injections and electrical treatment are unlikely to have some lasting effect, but massage may sometimes help. Doctors believe that the best ways to improve the appearance of cellulite are to take regular exercise - swimming, cycling, walking and dancing for example - and to go on a low-fat diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables. As rapid weight loss can exacerbate the problem, it is better to lose weight gradually. (Readers Digest, Foods that Harm Foods that Heal)
(ISBN 0276 412930)
I've always said if I was two inches taller, I wouldn't have any problems at all, as it would all be stretched out - wouldn't it!
I will leave you to make up your own minds !
