Cellulite is the non-medical name for the lumpy fat that gives skin an ‘orange peel’ or ‘cottage cheese’ appearance and slightly swollen texture. It usually affects the thighs and bottom and is mainly a problem for women rather than men. It can worsen with age and can affect slim as well as overweight people.

What causes cellulite? Various theories exist about what causes cellulite and why it might be different from other types of fat; most common explanations put the blame on a build-up of toxins, a nutritional deficiency or a poorly functioning lymphatic system. For this reason, anti-cellulite diets are often quite similar to detox or diuretic diets, with the emphasis on cleansing the system.

Exercise helps. As cellulite is body fat, most people who are affected find that it improves when they lose weight. Exercise can also be helpful in toning the muscles and defining the shape of the affected areas, so that the texture of the skin looks smoother. However, it may be difficult to eliminate cellulite entirely since it is caused by structural change in the collagen fibres that separate fat cells into clusters, which occurs as the body ages. When weight loss shrinks the fat cells, the dimpled effect will be less visible but the collagen structure remains.

For this reason, it is unlikely that a special anti-cellulite diet will be any more effective than a conventional healthy weight-loss diet in reducing dimpled fat. Cutting down on salt may help as too much salt promotes water retention, which could contribute to the mild swelling seen beneath the skin where cellulite is present.

An anti-cellulite diet is likely to be low in calories, which will reduce overall energy intake and will produce weight loss. There is little evidence that a special diet will be more effective than any other in reducing cellulite. Extreme diets of any kind are generally harder to stick to and les: likely to succeed in the long term.