Healthy Diet From Aussie Expert Tony Ferguson To Help Brits Shape Up For Summer

World famous diet expert Tony Ferguson is collaborating with Boots to help fight the obesity epidemic in the UK and bring a new range of healthy eating solutions to the High Street.

Overindulgence at Christmas, cold weather comfort eating, a lack of resolve to stick to New Year diets and the annual Easter chocolate binge may have all helped to stretch waistlines over the first few months of this year. Boots UK is delighted to announce that help is at hand as a revolutionary new diet plan, the Tony Ferguson Weightloss Programme, lands on the UK high street exclusively available at selected Boots stores. The launch of the diet is just one of the ways Boots UK is responding to the increasing levels of obesity in the UK.

The Tony Ferguson Weightloss Programme, which has already proved successful in Australia with over 600,000 Australians helped to lose weight fast through the programme, is a simple, affordable, flexible diet. It has been developed by pharmacists and nutritionists based on sound nutritional science and the latest thinking on food psychology. The programme offers a wide range of delicious and healthy foods and healthy snacks.

Furthermore, the one-off fee also includes access to a Tony Ferguson trained Boots Healthcare Advisor plus 24-hour freephone access to the Tony Ferguson Support Centre to provide round the clock support to help you to lose weight effectively. There is also a wealth of information and advice at www.tonyferguson.co.uk.

Boots Nutritionist, Vicky Pennington said: "Losing weight isn't about shedding pounds as quickly as possible, it's about sticking to a sensible diet that gives you the energy and nutrients you need. The Tony Ferguson Weightloss Programme combines two nutritionally balanced meal replacements with one healthy meal every day. This method can help customers to learn healthy eating principles that will ultimately aid their transition to everyday healthy eating and weight control."

This year in particular, the long cold winter has taken its toll on our waistlines as well as our heating bills with many people exceeding the typical winter weight gain of around half a kilogram. However, the research suggests that weight gain over the winter months may not simply be down to a lack of physical activity, comfort eating and Christmas excesses, but the way our bodies react during colder temperatures.

For instance, scientists have discovered an increase in the activity of enzymes that promote the storage of fat during the winter, while the amount of fat burned for energy is reduced. This means that over-indulgence and comfort eating over the winter is less likely to be counteracted by physical activity and excess weight can be harder to shift.

Furthermore studies show that levels of serotonin, one of the body's feel good chemicals, naturally fall in the winter and when serotonin is in very short supply, your brain is tricked into believing you need to eat. Researchers even believe there is a direct link between obesity (due to overeating) and decreased brain serotonin levels. There is also evidence to show that you'll find it harder to control your appetite in the winter than the summer.

The Tony Ferguson Weightloss Programme is aimed at helping people shift the excess weight that may have been gained during winter months and will be available in larger Boots stores from 21 April 2010. For a limited period, life-long membership to the programme will cost just £10.

Chris Ferguson, one of the pharmacists who developed the programme, added, "We are thrilled to be able to extend the success of the Tony Ferguson Weightloss programme to the UK and believe the partnership with Boots UK will help to make our effective weight loss programme accessible to everyone. We know from experience that support and education is critical for lasting weight loss and feel the combination of our programme with trained Boots Healthcare Advisors will help achieve great results for anyone trying to lose weight."

For more information on weight loss and healthy eating, the Diet Health Centre on www.Boots.WebMD.com combines information from leading UK health resources including the British Medical journal and NHS Choices as well as offering up-to-date, practical help and advice.