85% of post adolescent women report is the presence of cellulite. Men report a much lower figure, but it is not unheard of.

Under the skin, there are three layers of fat. The top layer is called the subcutaneous layer, and it is where cellulite occurs. The bottom two fat layers are “reserve” areas, where excess calories are stored as fat cells. Cellulite does not occur in these layers. In obese people, however, these two bottom layers push out the top cellulite layer, making it more noticeable. This phenomenon is depicted below.

In cellulite, the subcutaneous fat cells are pushed upwards, and the septae are pushed downwards. As a result, the fat cells are squeezed into small bulges that translate into lumps, and “orange peel” look of the skin. Because of aging, in women especially, skin begins to become thinner, and the septae become more fibrous. This results in the worsening of cellulite’s appearance. In obese people, the trapped subcutaneous fat is pushed outwards by the underlying layers of fat, thus also worsening the cellulite condition. One need not be obese, though, to want to diminish this condition as much as is possible.