A woman who has undertaken a strict fitness training regime in order to tackle her weight has found she has enjoyed significant health benefits.

The Daily Mail reports that hairdresser Janet Ginnings has transformed herself over the past five years from an overweight woman who constantly struggled with health problems into a fit and healthy new version of herself.

"I remember thinking: 'Here I am running this hair and beauty salon, telling people how to be beautiful, yet I'm massive, unhealthy and exhausted,'" she told the newspaper.

However, after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2004, a condition that is often linked to weight problems, Ms Ginnings embarked on a tough fitness training regime that has transformed her lifestyle and helped her beat the illness.

"If I'd let things carry on as they were, it would have been only a matter of time before my diabetes killed me," she explained.

Meanwhile, a new study published by researchers at Gothenburg University in Sweden suggests that Ms Ginnings may also have been helping improve her brain while undertaking the fitness training regime.

The study found young men who were fitter often performed better in mental tests than those who were overweight or unfit.