Weight loss tends to reduce the appearance of cellulite but not eliminate it altogether, a study by the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has shown.

For six month, the researchers measured the cellulite of 51 women enrolled in weight-loss programs.

The majority of the women had a significant reduction in cellulite, but the dimpling pattern was still evident, although fainter – and the cellulite worsened in a smaller number (those whose skin got much looser as they got lighter).

The authors concluded that “the dimple may be a permanent structure that does not change appreciably with weight loss.� The good news was those with the worst cellulite to begin with had the most improvement.

The best results were in patients who started with the highest body-mass index and lost the most weight and thigh fat.

Prediction: Laser liposuction (a.k.a. SmartLipo) will stay in business for a long time. [source: allure]