Dieters in the dark over calorie-counting

DOCTORS are warning that most dieters greatly underestimate how many calories they are eating.

According to data compiled from 10,000 slimmers by 200 doctors, 87 per cent of GPs believe dieters are in the dark about how much they actually eat. Meanwhile, more than nine out of ten people (92 per cent) see their dieting attempts end in failure, with 18 per cent ending up weighing more than when they started.

Nutritionist Dr Chris Fenn said: "People need to adopt a personalised approach to weight loss, tailored to their own situation. They need to understand the causes of their weight gain and the barriers to weight loss, including their relationship with food.

"People are often ill-prepared to lose weight and underestimate what is required."

The survey was commissioned by Shape.Smart, which makes diet products.