how to fix hip dips

Hip dips (the BS rhyming buzzterm given to those gentle inward curves found below your hips and above your thighs) are the latest body part the internet seems to be making people feel bad about.

According to Google data, the interest in 'hip dips' or 'violin hips' have doubled in a month, as well as being searched 40% more regularly than last year.

So, what's caused this hip dip hype? Quelle surprise, it's mainly social media-based; one of many non-problematic parts of a healthy body, like not having a thigh gap, a thighbrow, those two lower back dimples (... we know, the list is endless), that are highlighted and shamed within the toxic diet and body shaming culture.

Your hip dips may be pronounced or they may be subtle or they may be non-existent to the naked eye, but if you've found yourself typing 'how to get rid of hip dips' or 'exercises for hip dips', you are not alone. But, fortunately, you're in the right place now to get some accurate expert advice.

So, before you go trying to switch up your lower body workout or frantically looking for the best exercises for a bigger butt – slowww your roll, sister. We're going to walk you through everything you need to know, with the help of David Wiener, training specialist for the Freeletics fitness app.

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What are hip dips?

'Hip dips are naturally occurring, inward curves,' says Wiener. Naturally occurring.

What causes hip dips?

'Hip dips are caused by the shape of your pelvis. Although not everyone will have noticeable hip dips, if reduced to a skeleton, all of us would have an indentation where the hip bone meets the top of the thigh. Hip dips are a normal part of your body's structure,' he explains. And we'll say it louder for the people in the back: Hip dips are a normal part of your body's structure.

Are hip dips good or bad?

A common misconception is that hip dips (or a lack of hip dips) are a sign of how healthy you are. However, as we've said, hip dips are associated with the shape of your bones. Something, it won't surprise you to know, cannot be changed.

Because of the variation in pelvis shapes, your hips may look different from someone else's — and that includes your hip dips, too.

Are hip dips normal?

'Hip dips are not a sign of being healthy, unhealthy, overweight or underweight,' says Wiener. 'Although the amount of body fat you have can make hip dips more noticeable and can be the result of having a higher level of muscle mass, it's important to remember that hip dips are a part of your bone structure and, while you can enhance your body shape through exercise and diet, you cannot change your bone structure.'

So, tempted by any of those 'how to lose hip dips in a week'-type videos? Scroll on, it's just clickbait.

If you are worried about carrying a harmful level of body fat, there are safe ways to lose weight well, bringing your fat to muscle ratio into healthier balance. Check out our expert-lead, safe, sustainable advice on how to lose body fat, how many calories to eat to maintain safe fat loss or how to calculate the best macros for fat loss, for you.

Hip dips vs. love handles

Much higher than hip dips, 'love handles' (see also: muffin top... WHO comes up with these names?), as they're so fondly known, is a term referring to fat located on the sides of the abdomen and are not related to your bone structure. They can be linked to genetics, which dictates where we store fat it in the body.

Is it possible to get rid of hip dips?

While exercising to build muscle mass and lose body fat can help minimise their appearance, it won't make them completely go away. That's something to make peace with. What you can do is focus on exercises that work multiple lower body muscle groups (like squats and lunges) and sub in isolation exercises (e.g. fire hydrants and clams) where necessary.

However, make sure you focus on strengthening your entire lower body – not just zeroing in on your glutes. There's more to life than hip dips and that's true for your fitness, as well.

Final word: should you worry about hip dips?

In a word: no.

And, in three: no, heck, no.

'Obsessing over any part of your body, especially those which cannot be changed, is potentially very damaging to your health,' says Wiener. 'It's important for women to try to love their bodies, rather than being continually determined to change them.'

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How to get rid of hip fat: 8 exercises to minimise hip dips

Though it's not recommended to target the glutes alone, losing body fat can minimise the appearance of hip dips. For a great lower body focused session, toning your hips, thighs, abdominals and glutes, add the following exercises into your home workout routine:

1. Squats

a) Standing with feet hip-width apart hinge at the knees to come into a squat position – making sure your knees track over your toes and don't extend past.

b) With the weight in your heels push back up to standing, squeezing your glutes at the top.

2. Hip abduction

a) Lying on your side, use your top arm to support your upper body by placing it in front of your chest.

b) Keep your upper body and core as still and engaged as possible and raise your top leg towards the ceiling.

c) Lower back down – with control – and repeat.

3. Glute bridges

a) Laying on your back, bring your heels up the mat so they are a few inches away from your bum, knees pointing upwards.

b) Take your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart with toes pointing outwards and make sure your knees are pushing outwards to engage your abductors (side glutes).

c) Thrust your pelvis up towards the ceiling, making sure your upper back stays on the floor, and the driving force of the movement is only from the waist down.

d) Once you reach the top, squeeze your glutes. Try and keep them engaged throughout the whole movement. Lower and repeat.

4. Clams

a) Start by laying down on the ground on your side. Pop your head onto the arm that's on the ground. Start by moving your hips up to a 45-degree angle and your knees to a 90-degree angle.

b) Push your knee away from your core, but keep your feet pressed together.

c) Pause when you get to the top of the move, clenching your glutes and ab muscles, and return to the ground. Repeat.

5. Fire hydrants

a) Start on all-fours in a tabletop position, ensure your core is engaged and your back stays straight.

b) Keeping your legs at a 90-degree angle, raise one leg until it is in line with your hip. Drive the leg up with the knee, and ensure the foot and the knee are in-line throughout the whole movement.

c) Engage both glutes to ensure the hips stay square and centred.

d) If you feel too much movement through your upper body, bring your hands slightly to one side (the side of the planted leg) for more stability. Repeat.

6. Glute rainbows

a) Come onto all fours on your mat. Raise your left leg and extend it straight behind you.

b) Moving in an arc-motion and keeping your leg level with your body sweep it behind and across your right leg. Then, sweep it back past your starting position to a lateral position with your left hip. Return to centre and repeat on the other leg.

7. Side lunge

a) Standing at the top of your mat with your feet together, engage your core and lunge laterally, pushing your bum out behind you and keeping your upper back flat.

b) Push through the heel of your lunging foot and repeat.

8. Curtsy lunge

a) Standing with your feet hip-width apart lunge backwards, crossing your lunging leg over to the opposite side. You'll arrive in a deep curtsy position.

b) Drive through the heel of your front foot to return to your starting position. Repeat.

6 lower body workouts to sculpt leg, bum and hip muscle

For those of you who prefer to have your workouts sorted for you (don't blame you), we've asked superstar PTs to share their bestlower body workouts below, so you can work some of the biggest muscles in your body and create lean muscle doing so.

1. Beginner lower body workout

WH fitness contributor Alice Liveing created an exclusive 28-day fitness challenge just for you. Each week, you do three workouts to work your full body. The beginner lower body and core sessions will coach you through three supersets (two exercises repeated back to back with a 60-second rest in between). You repeat each superset three times to build confidence and strength.

2. 10-minute lower body workout

Short on time? Try this lower body workout from no-nonsense exercise queen Jillian Michaels.

3. Kayla Itsines' 14-minute lower body workout

She's the Australian queen of Sweat and an amazing trainer to boot. This speedy workout – part of the 28-day workout challenge she designed for WH (lucky us, hey) – targets your lower body with lunges, squats and glute bridges. Basically, everything to build strong, lean lower body muscle.

4. Lower body resistance band workout

Try this butt workout to kick your glutes into actions. PT Ciara Madden's go-to lower-body resistance band workout hits multiple muscle groups - all using only one resistance band. All you'll need is a medium-strength resistance band but not so heavy you're unable to move once it's around your thighs and a yoga mat for cushioning on the floor-based movements.

5. Stef Fit's glutes workout at home

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This session with Stef Fit is all about those glute gains. You'll perform two circuits and a superset, with minimal rest in between – it won't be easy, but it'll be worth it. You'll need a resistance band, dumbbell and an exercise or yoga mat for this class.

6. Lower body burnout with Meggan Grubb

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Grab a pair of dumbbells and prepare for the burn. The workout, inspired by her brand-new Beyond app, will target legs and glutes in a bodyweight circuit, closing out with a HIIT finisher to leave no muscle untouched.

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Emma Pritchard Contributing Health Editor Emma interviews the world's leading sportswomen, top health experts, and women who have turned their lives around through fitness – women like you.

Morgan Fargo Morgan is WH's digital fitness writer with a penchant for brutal HIIT classes and thick post-workout smoothies.

Rebecca Gillam Bex is a wellbeing writer, brand consultant and qualified yoga and meditation teacher who likes baths, crystals, running with her pup Gustav and making unboring vegan-ish food.

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