29m Brits tried to diet last year

More than half of Great Britain tried to lose weight last year, according to new statistics.
Research from Mintel shows that over half of the population – equivalent to 29 million or 55 per cent – made the effort to diet in the 12 months leading up to September 2013.
Women were the most enthusiastic of these, with two in three (65 per cent) attempting to lose weight, while the figure stood at 44 per cent for men. Both of these have risen by two percentage points respectively in the last year. 
Mintel’s senior food analyst Emma Clifford said: “There is a myriad of other routes towards weight loss that consumers prefer over buying ‘light’ or ‘diet’ food, with exercising more being the most popular.” 
The sale of diet foods has risen, but not by as much as would be expected due to “negative perceptions in terms of healthiness and portion sizes”, Ms Clifford added.
Research showed that the 5:2 diet was the nation’s favourite, with two-fifths (39 per cent) having tried it, while Atkins came in second with 32 per cent. Technology seemed to be a helpful aid to some, with one in ten reporting to have used a dieting app.