What is Cellulite?

According to the Harvard Women's Health Watch, cellulite is a popular term to describe fat deposits under the skin. It is characterized by a dimpled or orange-peel appearance caused by structural changes underneath the skin's top layer. Several explanations for this effect have been proposed, though none has been universally accepted. One of the most common is that cellulite has to do with the structure of the fat layer below the skin. In women, vertical fibers of connective tissue segregate fat into columnar pockets. Cellulite develops when small blood vessels in the fat layer become damaged, perhaps due to inflammation. The circulation of blood and lymph slows, and fluid accumulates. Although the layer of fat swells, the fat tissue remains tethered to connective tissue, creating puckers.

The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine notes that cellulite results from uneven fatty deposits, mostly below the waistline. In women, fat is arranged in large chambers underneath a fairly thin layer of skin. These chambers are separated by columns of collagen fibers. Cellulite occurs when too much fat is being stuffed into these chambers, causing the pitting and bulging of the skin. In addition, as women age, the fibers shrink and thicken, pulling the skin downward. This results in a quilt-like appearance on the skin surface, especially in areas such as the buttocks, thighs, or hips. Most women develop cellulite as they age, regardless of their race. According to some studies, as many as 95% of women over age 30 develop some form of cellulite in their body.
Female hormones (estrogen, and to a lesser extent, progesterone) play important roles in the formation of cellulite. Estrogen stimulates the storage of fat, which is needed for menstruation, pregnancy, and lactation. In addition, during the later phases of pregnancy, estrogen also causes the breakdown of collagen fibers to relax the cervix, making it possible for a woman to deliver her baby. This collagen breakdown sets the stage for the formation of cellulite. Progesterone may also contribute to the cellulite problem by weakening veins and causing water retention and weight gain.
Cellulite is mostly a women's problem. Due to different body physiques, men tend to have lower percentages of body fat, while women have higher percentages. In addition, men tend to accumulate fat in the abdominal area while women have fat deposits mostly in the buttocks and thighs. Men have thicker skin and the chambers are smaller and more tightly-held together. Therefore, cellulite is not often found in men.
Sources:
“In brief. Cellulite meltdown?” Harvard Women's Health Watch, 1998 Aug; 5(12): 7
"Cellulite." Mai Tran. and Teresa G. Odle. The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. 2nd Edition. Jacqueline L. Longe, Editor. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group, 2005.

What causes Cellulite?

• Stress
• Tension
• Poor diet
• Hormones
• Lack of exercise
• Hereditary factors
• Insufficient water intake

Factors that cause Cellulite to develop?
Stress and tension go together.  These two factors can cause muscles to seize up in pain which can cause the connective tissue of that muscle to seize up as well. Tension also can block the transport of nutrients, preventing proper waste elimination and purification.

Poor diet and poor eating habits go hand in hand in developing cellulite. Spicy foods, caffeine, saturated fats, alcohol and smoking are the biggest culprits. The toxins that these foods and beverages produce are easily trapped in fatty tissues. Crash diets are not a way to get rid of cellulite (or lose weight). They increase the risk because the body thinks it's starving and by attempting to compensate it assists in forming cellulite. Smoking damages the connective tissue that causes the dimpling effect.
 
Hormones, estrogen in particular, can have an effect on cellulite development. One of the functions of estrogen is to cause the body to retain water. Water retention inhibits the body from flushing the system of toxins thus leading to the formation of cellulite.
 
Lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyles can contribute to many health problems, including cellulite. Exercise helps improve muscle tone and circulation. This helps to cleanse the body and unblock tissue.
 
Hereditary factors of cellulite can be a factor. If it runs in your family, you are at an increased risk of developing cellulite.