The world's largest study of weight loss has shown that diets do not work for the vast majority of slimmers and may even put lives at risk.
More than two-thirds pile the pounds straight back on, raising the danger of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.
Indeed most dieters end up heavier than they did to start with, the researchers found.
They warn this type of yo-yo behaviour is linked to a host of health problems. And they say the strain that repeated weight loss and gain places on the body means most people would have been better off not dieting at all.
The analysis, published in the journal American Psychologist, concluded dieters may actually be damaging their health.
Research has shown the repeated rapid weight gain and loss associated with dieting can double the risk of death from heart disease, including heart attacks, and the risk of premature death in general.
weight loss has also been linked to stroke and diabetes and shown to suppress the immune system
clipped from: www.dailymail.co.uk 