People need to be realistic about the difficulties that they are likely to come up against during a weight loss programme, it has been claimed.

Thinking about what dieting and fitness equipment goals can actually be achieved is an important part of a successful weight loss regime, guest dietician at Weight Loss Resources Lyndel Costain suggested.

She was commenting on research published in the Journal of BioPsychoSocial Medicine which indicated that people with a happier and more positive outlook towards weight loss tend to be less successful.

The study also showed that people with a more cautious approach to their fitness and diet programme tended to be better at self-monitoring their progress, which is a key skill for successful weight loss.

She added: "[They are] really thinking about what they can manage, how and why they are doing it for them.

"Being overoptimistic about ease, rate and extent of weight loss sets people up for inevitable failure and yo-yo dieting."