Slimmers warned of diets causing 'more harm than good' - the food group to eat instead

"Summer diets promote cutting out entire food groups, which can often cause more harm than good," nutritionists at Second Nature said.

"When embarking on a weight loss journey, it can help to plan your meals in advance to ensure you’re eating a healthy balance of food groups."

They suggested planning ahead and stocking up on healthy, whole foods, which will make it easier to put together healthy meals day to day.

This can reduce the risk of reaching for unhealthy convenience food when you are short on time and also eliminates the need for restrictive diet plans.

The experts added: "Meal planning can reduce the risk of impulsively ordering a takeaway and can make you more aware of making healthier substitutions when doing your weekly food shop.

"Stock up on plenty of fruits and vegetables and foods high in protein, such as meat, fish, dairy, and nuts."

Fruits and vegetables are packed full of vitamins and fibre. High-fibre foods are very satiating which means the body will stay fuller for longer.

Protein is also great for reducing appetite and is often linked with weight loss for this reason. The macronutrient is also key for building muscle, so pack some in when going to the gym.

Eating more of these foods means slimmers don't need to drastically reduce what they eat. The nutritionists added: "Dieting shouldn’t revolve around the principle of eating less.

"Instead, it’s more beneficial to ensure that you eat filling and healthy meals throughout the day to reduce the risk of unhealthy snacking."

Another important thing to consider when losing weight is how much exercise you do.

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The experts suggested adding more movement into your day-to-day routine so you are consistently burning calories.

They said: "Alongside eating healthier, you should exercise regularly to make your weight loss journey impactful.

"Exercising regularly has numerous benefits besides weight loss, such as boosting psychological health and wellbeing, strength, and improving cardiovascular health.

"Even short bursts of exercise are beneficial, such as doing star jumps when you wake up or running on the spot when you get home from work."