“I’ve been overweight for years and years. Losing weight now won’t do much.”

IN FACT: Losing weight pays off at every age, and it doesn’t have to be big to make a difference. A 2016 study proved losing just 5 per cent of body weight can deliver significant health benefits, while losing 10 per cent could be good news for diabetes. New research published late last year showed people living with type 2 who do it within the first five years of diagnosis have the biggest chance of sending diabetes into remission.

TO MAKE IT WORK: Start keeping a food diary, with recent research showing it’s a habit that’s the best predictor of weight-loss success.

For best results, write down what you eat after every snack and meal, rather than trying to do it all in one hit at the end of the day.