Slimming World is one of the longest-running eating plans, based on the traditional slimming club format.

For a fee, dieters can attend each week to get weighed and to share tips and advice with other members.

A low-fat diet is probably the most traditional and well known approach to weight loss.

Cutting down on fatty foods is usually combined with an increase in fruit and vegetables as part of a healthy eating approach. Losing weight is one of several benefits to adopting a more balanced diet.

Very-low-calorie diets differ from other diet plans, as they eliminate food altogether.

Instead, meal replacement bars and drinks are provided which contain all the required daily vitamins, minerals and protein.

The Atkins diet, or ‘Atkins Nutritional Approach’, was the darling of early-noughties Hollywood.

The red meat-friendly, fat-friendly, cream-friendly diet was a winner for obvious reasons.

Left the diet to the last minute and need to trim that muffin top? Don’t panic.

We have five sure-fire quick fixes to lose those final pounds, fast.

BMI = body mass index. A measure of your weight in relation to your height.