One-size-fits-all diets ‘do not cater for individual needs’

One-size-fits-all diets do not fully cater for the varied needs of the individuals who are on them, according to Foods for Life.

Yvonne Bishop-Weston, nutritionist at Foods for Life, also said that these mass-marketed diets rarely take into account any underlying medical conditions that people may have.

These could include hidden digestive disorders, food intolerance and hormonal imbalances, which, she explained, can thwart people's weight loss efforts.

"The best way [to lose weight] is to act like a vegan – read the ingredients and the backs of packets," Ms Bishop-Weston suggested.

Her comments follow the publication of research conducted by weight management programme Jenny Craig, which found that 89 per cent of UK women have tried to lose weight at some point in their lives.

Some 60 per cent of those surveyed said they are currently on a diet and one in five claimed they are continuously on a diet.

Which different diets have you tried?