The dietary programme is also good as it allows some flexibility with points. For example, when you have a special occasion coming up.

The emphasis of weight loss plan is very much on points, not on what foods you eat. And so you are encourage to plan your meals using points system. As there are very little foods that are actually restricted on this diet, it is probably one of easier diet programmes to follow.

Many dieters also find group support given at meetings invaluable. However, if you are happy to do diet on your own, you can attend online meetings – great if you are short of time or work irregular hours.

The diet has four stages, first 14 days of which are very strict indeed. You gradually re-introduce food but opting for a healthier option – eg eating whole wheat bread instead of white.

The Atkins Diet may be suitable for you if you like to eat a lot of meat, as bacon and eggs form a big part of ‘acceptable’ diet, while in first few weeks, pasta, alcohol, certain vegetables and other carbohydrate-rich foods are banned.

There is a list of acceptable foods, which you are not allowed to stray from – not even one chip! - so if you find to hard to follow ‘rules’, you may find Atkins diet heavy going.