Fat is essential and it exists in two basic types: subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. The quantum, type and location of fat cells that you have is depending on your genes. The amount of physical activity that you do also plays a role in the quantity of body fat you have
As its name suggests, subcutaneous fat lies just below the surface of the skin. It is a type of connective tissue and has hair follicles, blood vessels, nerves, and clusters of fat cells. It serves as a cushion, energy storage depot and as a layer of insulation for the body which helps the body maintain its internal temperature.
Visceral fat is located deep under the muscle tissue in the abdominal cavity and surrounds vital organs. It produces hormones such as leptin and adiponectin. Adiponectin influences the cells’ response to insulin. Leptin, which is generally released after a meal, suppresses the appetite.
This is a specific form of subcutaneous fat. Cellulite is deposited just below the surface of the skin around the hips, thighs, and buttocks. It has a dimpled appearance. Everyone has cellulite because everyone has subcutaneous fat. Cellulite is more common in women. It is pronounced when the connective tissue that separates fat cells into compartments has a honeycomb appearance. As people age and their skin get thinner, cellulite becomes more noticeable.
Cellulite and any kind of subcutaneous fat can sometimes be unpleasant to look at but there is no serious health risk associated with them. However, visceral fat poses health concerns that can be critical. When in excess, visceral fat changes or disrupts the body’s balance of hormones. This can lead to hardening of the arteries, impair the body’s ability to use insulin, raise the level of bad cholesterol (LDL), lower the level of good cholesterol (HDL) and trigger a rise in blood pressure.
Exercising regularly can help in preventing the gain of excess fat and reduce your chances of developing cellulite.
Eating sensibly, strength training, doing aerobic exercise three to five times per week is helpful in loss of visceral or subcutaneous fat. Slow and steady weight loss should be the aim.
Apart from too much body fat or weight; fluid retention, loss of elasticity in the skin and fat-and-muscle imbalance (too much fat, too less muscle) affect the levels of cellulite. Therefore it is not just about exercise.
Muscle building helps in improving the fat-muscle balance and thus has a good effect on health. Therefore, in addition to doing cardio to lose weight, you should also work your muscles.
Exercises targeted towards the body parts which are adversely affected by cellulite and fat offer fast improvement in the health by reducing fat and cellulite.
Right food intake is just as important as the right exercise. Loss of weight is achieved when you consume fewer calories than you burn.
Slender or underweight women should not lose weight just to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
It is not possible to choose the area on your body from which you want to reduce fat. The fat loss due to diet and exercise is distributed around your entire body and not just on the part that you exercise. The fat loss from your belly would be just a fraction of the fat loss.