Ditching sugar-laden drinks and switching to either slim-line versions or water can help dieters shed up to 5 per cent of their body weight in just six months.

Researchers yesterday claimed that the simple substitution by those trying to lose weight will see them shift a minimum of 5lb.

Their study, due to appear in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, compared weight loss for 318 overweight or obese people.
Volunteers were divided into three groups - one group switched from calorie-laden beverages to diet soft drinks, the next switched to water, while the third group did not change their drinks and just received general information about healthy choices that could lead to weight loss.