Winning ways to fight the flab

SHAKES, soups, snack bars and smoothies are all replacing solid, nutritious food as we stare into the abyss that is the bikini and shorts season.

Of course, we know the best way to lose weight is a simple matter of arithmetic: eat less, exercise more. But we're like information bulimics, devouring every gag-inducing detail of celebrity food fads. Beyonc's maple syrup diet? Yuck! Charles Saatchi's nine-eggs-a-day regime? Give me a break. Mariah Carey reportedly eats only purple food three days a week to stay in shape, while Kate Winslet allegedly lost her baby flab by analysing her face.

The latest phenomenon is the Dukan Diet, said to be the reason why French women don't get fat. Coming to the UK on 13 May, its appeal lies in the promise that dieters can eat whatever they like – with one proviso.

Dukan diet

The brainchild of Dr Pierre Dukan, this book is a four-step programme that has already sold a million copies in France. Dieters start by eating only protein, as much as they can stomach, for two to seven days. Later, you can introduce vegetables and other foods. The final step – stabilisation – is eating whatever you like, but for one day a week you must eat only protein.

Dukan also stresses the importance of drinking two litres of water a day and walking briskly for an hour four days a week. The result, he claims, is weight-loss of 3lb-5lb a week and, more importantly, it's a diet for long-term success, not just a quick fix.

The Dukan Diet, by Dr Pierre Dukan (Hodder & Stoughton, 12.99)

New Atkins diet

Rene Zellweger and Robbie Williams were both said to be fans of the old-style Atkins diet, and 50 million followers surely can't be wrong. But critics claimed it led to only short-term weight-loss, wasn't balanced and could even lead to kidney damage.

The new Atkins, launched in March, was devised by three American doctors who believe they have come up with a healthier version that is easier to stick to. Proteins still make up the largest portion of meals, but dieters are now also permitted some healthy carbs, such as vegetables. Then, once your target weight is reached, even pasta and bread can be reintroduced. But bad news for those with a sweet tooth: sugar is banned, in all forms, so no juices or smoothies.

New Atkins, New You, by Dr Eric Westman, Dr Stephen Phinney and Dr Jeff Volek (Vermilion, 7.99)

Nordic diet

For years we've been told the Mediterranean diet, containing olive oil and fresh fruit and veg, is the key to good health and long life. But now the Scandinavians are getting in on the act. Trina Hahnemann, described as the Danish Delia, considers the Nordic diet to be one of the healthiest, backed up by the fact that only ten per cent of Swedes are obese, compared with 25 per cent in Britain.

The diet is based on fish such as herring and salmon, which are rich in protein and omega-3s, and veg such as cabbage, kale and sprouts, which are high in antioxidants. To look like Helena Christensen, it's worth it.

The Nordic Diet, by Trina Hahnemann (Quadrille, 12.99)

Baby food diet

GMTV's fashion stylist Mark Heyes was so desperate to squeeze into his Dior Homme skinny jeans he ate nothing but small jars of mush for two weeks. First dreamed up by Christian Dior's chief designer Hedi Slimane, the diet's fans include Reese Witherspoon – although she insists she always eats at least one adult meal a day. On the plus side, each jar is nutritionally balanced; on the minus, most are inedible – and you'd need to eat at least five to fill you up.

Charcoal diet

It sounds like the perfect weight-loss plan for bad cooks, but Girls Aloud's Sarah Harding swears by this new craze. She sprinkles charcoal on all her food, claiming that it gets rid of toxins while helping her stay trim. The charcoal is also said to be good for hangovers and helps keep flatulence at bay.

"I found out about it on a fashion website," Harding has said. "It has a strange texture, but it doesn't taste of anything and apparently absorbs all the bad, damaging stuff in the body."

Activated charcoal is sold in health food shops and online

• This article was first published in The Scotland on Sunday, May 2, 2010