Until recently, weight gain was seen as a good thing, or at least a part of growing old. These days, it is seen not only as a problem by many people who care about their appearance, but also as an issue medically, with weight gain implicated in many diseases.

The combination of poor diet readily available, and sedentary lifestyles, makes it much more likely that we will pack on the pounds. We are bombarded throughout the day with advertisements for calorie laden food - a strong commitment to a healthy lifestyle is needed if we are to resist this siren call.