Stop Blaming Yourself Cellulite is a skin condition  that affects more than 85% of women.  Cellulite does not result from poor diet or lack of exercise.  Increased body fat does not account for the appearance of cellulite.  The development of cellulite is primarily caused by: hormones, vascular changes and inflammation.  It appears when fat cells just under the skin swell or engorge and the once flexible collagen bands become brittle and no longer stretch properly.  This is what causes the dimpled skin known as cellulite.