Celebs often battle with their weight, piling on pounds one minute only to shift them the next. But it's risky. Nutritionist Juliette Kellow reveals the dangers of up-and-down dieting..
How does Britney drop 10lb in a few days - then seems to be back where she started a few weeks later?
And Jessica Simpson. Currently curvy, but how does she morph from buxom blonde to a denim short-clad dot quicker than you can say Daisy Duke?
Yo-yo dieting is rampant in Celebsville, but it's one trend you shouldn't follow. The combination of a near starvation diet and vigorous workouts are bad for your figure and worse for your health. The "starving" phase can't be maintained long and will almost always be followed by "stuffing" when your body compensates for everything you have denied yourself.
Dr C Wayne Calloway, a US endocrinologist, explains: "People who skip a meal tend to be more hungry, so if you skip lunch you're setting yourself up to eat two desserts at the next meal."
Severely restricting calories also puts the body into starvation mode where it becomes efficient at protecting fat stores and uses muscle to provide calories - so we lose muscle mass. When you start eating normally, the body can't burn calories like it used to, so we pile on fat.
Slashing food means losing fibre and essential nutrients - so hair, skin and nails start to look dull and flakey and you could suffer headaches, dizziness, irritability and fatigue. Long-term, fluctuating body weight has been associated with coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholestorol and gallstones.
Then there's the psychological impact. Research reveals that constantly losing and gaining weight can increase stress and make you feel depressed.
Of course, obesity comes with a health problems including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and joint and back problems - so it makes real sense to get yourself in shape. But if you want to stay healthy and look fantastic then lose those extra pounds gradually and don't go to extremes.
Then keep them off for good with a balanced diet and regular exercise.
WHAT'S YOUR PERFECT WEIGHT?
(1) Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI). Use the calculator on www.bdaweightwise.co.uk.Aim for a BMI of 21.
(2) Get a tape measure and measure your waist. For women, it should be below 80cm (32in).
(3) Measure your percentage body fat. Many weighing scales now also measure body fat and some gyms have facilities to do this. A healthy range of body fat for women aged 20 to 39 years is 21-33%.
For women aged 40-59 years, it's 23-34%. Visit www.tanita.co.uk for more information.
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Britney Spears
Britney has had her fair share of ups and downs and has struggled at times to lose baby weight. On the beach she covered up those extra pounds in a black outfit. She's clearly more comfortable in a pink bikini, looking relaxed and confident and in perfect shape.
Hannah Waterman
Last year, Hannah shed three stone in five months - a sensible 2lb a week. She says she achieved her toned figure by eating frequent small meals and interval training three times a week. While looking great now, she shouldn't lose any more or she could look gaunt.
Mischa Barton
Mischa is looking healthy right now but has been prone to looking seriously thin in the past - and a tight black dress shows just how skinny she was. Now that she's regained a few pounds she is looking much healthier. And, in this cute skirt this summer, she was looking back to her best. Let's hope this lasts.
Janet Jackson
Three years ago, Janet had to lose almost five stone following years of yo-yo dieting. She maintained her 81/2 stone figure for more than a year, but has fluctuated again. Her red-carpet look shows that she's reached an ideal weight and shape for her size - unlike her workout outfit.
Mariah Carey
The orange cardi does little to disguise the fact that Mariah looks out of shape. Dieting and exercise have clearly worked wonders for her though and in her shimmery dress, she looks slim - while maintaining her famous curves. This looks like an ideal shape for Mariah.
Kerry Katona
Kerry is overweight in her bikini, so it's great she's now looking slim and toned - even if it's been helped by liposuction. In the past she's boasted about extreme weight loss, once claiming a 2st loss in a week. Now she's an ideal weight let's hope she has a healthier attitude to her body.
Jessica Simpson
Jessica looked amazing in her Daisy Duke days but that body was always going to be hard to maintain. Recently she seems to have put on a few pounds, but keeping her current curves - not putting on more - would be healthier than starving herself back into those denim shorts.
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