Weight loss: Eating more of one food group can help you burn fat and achieve a flat stomach

Dietitian, Dr Carrie Ruxton, advisor to the General Mills fibre campaign, said: “Fibre is often forgotten but it’s one of the most important nutrients for health. In the UK, nine out of 10 adults don’t hit the recommended target of 30 grams a day according to the General Mill Report.

"There’s a misconception that fibre is only for digestion, but this is far from the mark. It’s an important tool for managing appetite and targeting visceral fat.

“Soluble fibre - found in oats, beans, fruit and vegetables - works by forming a gel-like substance in the gut which slows the absorption of sugars and fats. This makes us feel fuller for longer and less tempted to snack.

“A study in more than 89,000 European adults, found that people who increased their fibre consumption had a lower waist circumference over the long term.

"Another study, which combined the results from 22 different clinical studies, reported that boosting soluble fibre intake led to a significant reduction in waist circumference of nearly two centimetres.”

Fibre is food such as fruits, vegetables and wholegrains and the doctor shared three hacks to ensure you are eating enough each day.

She recommended kicking off the day with porridge, snacking on fruit when hungry and incorporating beans into your meals.

Dr Ruxton said: "Porridge oats are high in soluble fibre, so kick start your day with a bowl of overnight oats.

"Simply soak 50 grams of oats and frozen berries in apple juice the night before and stir in Greek yoghurt at breakfast."

Substitute sugary, processed snacks for fruit to get an extra boost of fibre throughout the day, the expert continued. She said: "Pears, bananas, apples, kiwis and avocadoes are particularly good fibre sources.

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"Eating these as snacks instead of biscuits or cakes not only helps to manage your appetite but provides essential vitamins and minerals."

Finally, consider using beans and pulses to jazz up your main meals as these will keep you feeling full throughout the day and contribute to healthy weight loss.

Dr Ruxton concluded: "Chickpeas, lentils, butter beans and kidney beans are all rich in soluble fibre. Make your meat dishes go further by chucking in a can. Try chilli con carne, Moroccan lamb or chicken and lentil curry."