are cellulite painful

Cellulite is never a desired body feature, but for some sufferers it can actually be painful. This most often occurs in people who are overweight. Women most often see cellulite on the buttocks, hips and thighs. Men will more often have it on the abdomen or neck. Cellulite is a common problem, but not everyone will end up with painful cellulite. A significant lifestyle change may be needed to address the problem.

For some people, painful cellulite means tenderness when an area with cellulite is touched. Others report a dull ache in areas with cellulite. Pain can occur for more people when they sit or lay in certain positions, or when they move certain ways. Painful cellulite manifests when the fat cells that the cellulite consists of bunch together, putting pressure against a person’s skin

Cellulite, in general, originates from fibrous connective cords that attach skin to underlying muscle, according to the Mayo Clinic. These cords connect skin to deeper structures, and a person’s fat lies in between. As fat cells accumulate, they push up on the skin, even as the cords pull down. The result is the classic orange-peel appearance of cellulite.

The majority of women, at some point in life, end up with some level of cellulite. However, painful cellulite often is indicative of a person having too much fat on her body. Being overweight can lead to serious health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, some forms of cancer, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea, according to The Obesity Society. There was a dramatic rise in the obesity rate in the 20 years leading up to 2010, and at that time some 64 percent of Americans were overweight or obese.