Accroding to research, home cooking is a cause of weight gain because dieters tend to give themselves bigger portions and always clear their plates. The YouGov survey for WeightWatchers found that avoiding eating out to save money can have unexpectedly fattening consequences.

It suggested that determined dieters were inadvertently sabotaging their efforts to slim by failing to measure out ingredients for meals. The survey (which included over 2,000 people) found that 68% aimed to dine at home more often than usual this month, with a quarter saying that this was because they wanted to lose weight, and half because they wanted to save money.

However, 95% admitted to clearing their plates when they were full, and 86% were found to not be controlling portion sizes effectively. A third said that they served up the same size portions to men and women.

Lucy Vickers, a WeightWatchers nutritionist, said: “Finishing everything on your plate, regardless, is often a deeply ingrained habit from childhood. We should all be learning to develop the skill of knowing when we are hungry and when we’ve had enough.”

Want to lose weight? Sign up to our newsletter, where we regularly post weight loss tips and tricks.

Written exclusively for The Life Dept | Live Longer | 19 January 2012

Whoosh! Whoosh to our slider to find the lowest price for any mix of life insurance, critical illness insurance and income protection cover.It’s the only website that can do this!

Whizz! Instant price – whoosh the sliders to your heart’s content. The lowest price will appear instantly.

Wheee! You are in safe hands. Call our team for full advice (regulated by the Financial Services Authority) on 0333 240 5850 or We’ll Call You. They are highly trained, UK based and salaried. They don’t receive a bonus if you choose to apply.

Whatch! See our TV ad