One in three people who try to lose weight by dieting actually pile on as much as 6kg, new research shows. Another third of dieters will re-gain any weight they manage to lose within weeks of ending a strict eating regimen. The British Dietetic Association study of 4000 men and women shows that only about half of the 18% of slimmers who reach their goal weight can maintain it. The dieting roller-coaster has contributed to a surge in obesity throughout the Western world, with the World Health Organisation describing "globesity as an epidemic.

According to figures from the Institute Of Health and Welfare, 19% of men and 22% of women aged over 25 are obese. Another 30% of women and 48% of men are overweight. And about 30% of children are overweight or obese. At any one time in the Western world 42% of women and 29% of men are on a diet. Most are devoties of celebraty backed fads such as the Atkins, Zone or SouthBeach diets. Some experts say diets are not the answer to the battle of the bulge.

"I have seen thousands of patients over 16 years and i can categorically say diets dont work", Medical Association obesity spokesman Dr Rick Kausman said. "They are seductive. Thats the trick. Diets can create some short-term weight-loss, but don't work in the long run." Dr Kausman, author of If not Dieting, Then What?, said he was not surprised by the findings of the British study. "The key is to achieve and sustain weight-loss behaviour goals," he said. Dr Kausman's tips include:

NOT feeling guilty about food or referring to food as good or bad. It is better to class foods as "daily" and "sometimes".

EATING slowly, making it harder to over eat.

EATING only when hungry, not because you are bored, tired, happy or sad.

IMPROVING body image and self esteem by focusing on parts you like.

KEEPING active.

Dietitian Dr Tim Crowe said restrictive diets were not the key to losing weight. Dr Crowe said diets generally backfired, adding that those who had the most success in losing weight and keeping it off:

FOLLOWED a low fat high carbohydrate diet.

Weighed themselves regurlarly.

Made sure they had breakfast to control appetite during the day.