Photographs Getty, John Frost Newspapers
Have you recently found yourself thinking twice when it comes to your reflex choice of low-fat yoghurt over a regular pot, or skimmed milk over a bottle of full fat? If so, it’s not surprising – there’s a big fat debate going on right now, and you’d be forgiven for being confused.
Not that long ago, losing weight seemed simple. You’d turf out all the butter, milk and brie, and fill the fridge with low-fat spread, red-top milk and cottage cheese. The problem was that not very many of us lost weight. In fact, the opposite occurred: the nation’s collective waistline has been expanding at a worrying rate for the past 30 years, with obesity levels in the UK more than trebling, according to a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.