Eat Yourself Thinner

That's why a new bespoke diet dealing with food intolerances is big news with dieters in the North West of England.

In an age when obesity is on the rise and we're all under pressure to stay slim, more and more women are now trying Novo, a new holistic programme that helps people lose weight without calorie counting or exercise.

It is based on the theory that we pile on the pounds because of the way our immune system responds to certain forms of sustenance.

"As particular foods pass through the gut into the bloodstream they cause a reaction that negatively impacts the balance of proteins which normally act to release stored fat and deliver glucose to muscles," explains nutritionist Clare Dodgshon.

"By reducing or eliminating the foods that cause this immune reaction we can naturally convert stored fat into energy more efficiently and hence lose weight."

The novo diet has already proved to reduce body weight by as much as 10pc in as little as five weeks during scientific trials. Celebrity fans of the diet include PR guru Fran Cutler as well as World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst.

So, how does it work?

Well, Novo takes a small blood sample from each client and , using some of the most advanced screening technology available, makes a highly detailed analysis of that person's immune response to 116 common foods.

The client than receives a fully supported bespoke diet based on eliminating those items that cause the greatest interfaces with their immune system.

"Orthodox weight management is built on the idea that excess energy, consumed in the form of food and not expended on the form of exercise, is converted to fat" says Dodgshon. "So, by reducing the amount you eat while increasing exercise you burn off fat as an alternative to glucose, leading to a reduction in stored fat and consequently a reduction in weight.

"The majority of diets fail as restricting calorie intake or omitting food groups is unsustainable in the long term and ultimately could lead to health problems.