VIA TOTAL BEAUTY:
Here’s what we absolutely know about cellulite: you can’t “cure” it, women are more likely to have it, and it ain’t pretty. What causes cellulite isn’t so clear. Hormones and genetics definitely play a role (thanks, mom), but Howard Murad, M.D., dermatologist, and CEO/founder of Murad, Inc., says lifestyle factors that damage the skin or cause poor circulation, think: smoking, excess weight, a diet high in bad fats, alcohol, lack of exercise and overall poor health — can also contribute. So we mined reams of official data and population research to find out what U.S. cities have the highest rates of cellulite risk factors. Find out if you live in a cellulite city.
No. 10: Memphis, Tenn.
If there actually was a whole lotta shakin’ going on in Elvis’ city, Memphis might not have cellulite issues. But nearly 30 percent of the city’s residents don’t exercise on a regular basis, and more than 70 percent of the population is considered overweight or obese.
No. 9: Charleston, W.Va
Second only to Montgomery, Ala., in obese and overweight residents, Charleston, W.Va., is also butt-friendly — cigarette butt, that is. It has one of the highest populations of smokers in the country.
No. 8: Montgomery, Ala.
Weight isn’t necessarily a determining factor in whether you have cellulite — skinny people get those butt and thigh dimples too. But America’s fattest city is also rich in fast food restaurants, and more than one-quarter of its citizens aren’t physically active — a lethal combo for augmenting cellulite.
No. 7: Huntington, W.Va
The couch potatoes of Huntington haven’t gotten the memo: regular exercise can boost circulation and decrease body fat — two factors that can improve the appearance of cellulite. Residents of Huntington are no. 1 in poor health — with a higher than average number of obese or overweight citizens and smokers — and it’s the second “least active” city in the U.S.
No. 6: Jacksonville, Fla.
Poor eating habits are just one of the cellulite-enhancing risk factors in this beach town. Jacksonville has more fast food joints than the average U.S. city, plus a high number of smokers and heavy drinkers.
No. 5: Hagerstown, Md.
Toxins in your body from smoking can damage the skin’s elasticity and appearance, which can exacerbate the look of cellulite. In a city where nearly 30 percent of its adult population smokes (the second highest in the U.S.), it’s easier to spot the cottage cheese-y look created by cellulite.
No. 4: Mobile, Ala.
Lots of ladies in this southern city (it ranks number nine in lowest male to female population) means lots of cellulite in general, but coupled with the fact that nearly one-third of its citizens don’t exercise, cellulite is Mobile’s epidermal enemy numero uno.
No. 3: Rock Springs, Wyo.
Heavy drinkers, plenty of smokers, lack of exercisers and a higher-than-average number of overweight or obese people (more than 60 percent) are the culprits behind Rock Springs’ high-ranking cellulite status.
No. 2: Wichita Falls, Texas
Sitting on your duff and smoking is a good way to wreck your skin and make cellulite look worse, and the population of Wichita Falls gets high marks in both categories. These Texans are the least active in the U.S., they’re no. 2 in the worst health category, and for every 100 adults, 30 smoke — the highest rate in the U.S.
No. 1: Birmingham, Ala.
The biggest city in Alabama is home to more women than men (the second highest female to male ratio in the U.S.), which means one thing: more cellulite. With one of the highest populations of adult smokers and a whopping 70.3 percent of its citizens either obese or overweight and 6 percent reporting poor health, there’s no better recipe for cellulite.
