Age and sex influence the health benefits of dieting

Here's some good news for men, less so for women. Men lose weight more easily than women, something I've always put down to their greater muscle mass and therefore burning more calories.

- DR MIRIAM STOPPARD

The University of Edinburgh-led research team says dieting affects men and women differently when they're young adults, although the variations disappear with age.

They also found men on reduced calorie diets lost more fat than women and had greater improvements in blood sugar levels as well.

The findings suggest that oestrogen, one of the main female sex hormones, may play a role in determining the health benefits of dieting. Experts say this could help to identify those most likely to benefit from a restricted calorie diet.