Pounds may disappear yet cellulite remains.

• Position: Weight Loss - Brief article

Weight loss may decrease the severity of cellulite for some women, but may worsen the condition for others, reports the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Arlington Heights, Ill.

"Approximately 85% of women are affected by cellulite," indicates study co-author John Kitzmiller. "Cellulite is not specific to overweight people, but excess weight may worsen the condition. We found that weight loss in overweight patients improved the appearance of cellulite but, for a few, it actually worsened the condition."

The study examined women in medically supervised weight-loss programs, which include low-fat meals, liquid diets, medication, and bariatric surgery. Some 59% of patients experienced an improvement in the appearance of their cellulite, while 41% worsened. The average weight loss was 30.5 pounds.

Patients who lost larger amounts of weight and lowered their percentage of thigh fat experienced the greatest improvement in cellulite. These patients had a significantly higher starting body mass index...