Weight loss: 'I'm a doctor - changing how you exercise can help you burn fat more efficiently'

Clinical lead at Treated.com, Dr Daniel Atkinson, acknowledged many dieters try to lose weight from specific parts of their body, such as their abs.

Those looking to build muscle and create definition around their stomach can look for specific ab exercises.

The expert said: "When you search online for ways to burn belly fat, you’ll often find exercise programmes built around targeting your stomach and improving your core strength.

"Workouts involving exercises such as crunches, planks, and leg raises can all help to burn abdominal fat, and they can build muscle around that part of your body."

However, for a longer-lasting full-body transformation, it is worth considering all aspects of your fitness, aiming to reduce fat from across your body.

Dr Atkinson explained: "In the long-term, increasing both your fitness and muscle mass can improve your strength and help you lose weight.

"In fact, your body will burn fat at a more efficient rate the more muscle you build. So while workouts aimed at ‘burning belly fat’ often can do that, they’ll usually work your whole body at the same time."

So, what is the best way to exercise?

Regular exercise will help with weight loss, general fitness, improved health and even better sleep. The doctor shared a mix of cardio, strength training and walking can give the best results.

He explained: "In terms of exercising, the NHS recommends 150 minutes of moderate activity a week. Both moderate and high-intensity workouts can help you burn fat.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Weight loss: Londoner, 52, on meal swaps that helped her lose 12st 5lb - 'life doesn't end at 50'
• Doctor shares snack swaps that have a 'huge impact on calorie intake' - 'see visible weight loss'
• Scientists identify diet that offers 50% more fat loss than calorie-cutting in obesity breakthrough

"So like the shift of focus from thinking about belly fat to thinking about weight loss more broadly, think of exercise in terms of its overall effects on your weight.

"Rather than focusing specifically on your stomach, instead aim to exercise as often as you can, and find a balance between gentle and more challenging workouts.

"For a lot of people, high-intensity workouts can be too intense, and might ultimately put you off doing any exercise at all if you feel overwhelmed."

Finding exercise you enjoy will make it easier to stick to, therefore giving better weight loss results.