One in four on a diet

Despite the fact that Britons are getting fatter, one in four is on a weight-loss diet at any one time. The survey, conducted by Gallup, questioned 2,000 people and revealed that one fifth of dieters are 'serial slimmers' who have attempted 10 or more diets in the last 10 years. While 75 per cent do manage to lose half a stone or more, only half maintain the lower weight for more than a year. Gallup says that high-profile celebrity dieters such as Vanessa Feltz, Carol Vorderman and Geri Halliwell are the inspiration for attempted diets.