It seems that new diets come and go with almost the same regularity as the passing of the seasons.  Whether it’s low carb, or low fat, cabbage soup, or south beach, each different diet regime promises a sophisticated new way of solving people’s weight gain problems, writes Louise Ellis.

 Yet at the core of weight maintenance is a balance between how many calories we consume – and how many we expend through daily activity. It takes just 100 extra calories a day, which is just one chocolate  biscuit or half a pint of lager, for a person to gain a pound of weight in a month. This is the reason why people, who don’t think they overeat,  gradually find themselves going up a dress size.

Simple calorie counting is now becoming an increasingly popular approach to weight loss, giving people more freedom and control over their lifestyle. Many new websites are springing up to help us monitor our daily intake.

Recent figures show that obesity is on the increase, with 20% of men and 25% of women falling into the overweight category.  What is even more shocking is that experts think up to 30,000 people each year die from obesity related illnesses and diseases. The reason for the rise is the increasingly sedentary lifestyles that people live, with so much time spent in cars and working at computers.

Unless one follows a specific diet plan or strict regime, it is often difficult to monitor how many calories you are consuming.  Many popular foods contain far more calories than people realise.  In New York, new legislation is forcing restaurants and food outlets to publish how many calories are in their dishes, with customers saying they are shocked at how many calories certain dishes contain. For example, a blueberry muffin is valued at 480 calories, while a tuna melt is 1,270 calories.

This year, the McDonalds chain will introduce a similar scheme in the UK, with calorie information on food packaging and on posters in its restaurants. McDonald's knows burgers and fries are linked in the minds of parents with concerns that children on both sides of the Atlantic are becoming more obese. It has also introduced promotional salads, lower-fat sauces and has changed its cooking oils to reduce the saturated fat.

There are now some very helpful websites offering calorie counting information. The Daily Plate is a free website offering a daily journal which helps people calculate how much weight they need to lose. It then tracks daily calorie intake, with information on over 525,000 foods, including products from specific brands. It also helps you to work out how many calories you have used up, with details on 2,000 different types of physical activity. It also links you up to an online community to connect with people who are also trying to lose weight and establish a healthier lifestyle.