Expert tummy trimmers... nutrition advice tested!

A ‘bit of a tum' is our most stubborn female characteristic but, with one of our expert strategies, you can win the battle of the bulge...

The nutritionist expert Dr Marilyn Glenville

The strategy:  the Lose The Belly programme is a personalised three-month plan concentrating on nutrition and lifestyle. An hour-long initial consultation costs £130, with 30-minute follow-ups for £85 each.

Where to find it: there are Dr Marilyn Glenville Clinics in London and Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Call 0870 532 9244 or visit www.marilynglenville.com.

The low-down: what causes a pot belly? Carbohydrate craving and chronic stress are the culprits, Dr Glenville believes. Stress raises levels of cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone. If we don't burn the energy this releases, it's stored as tummy fat close to the liver, where it can be converted back to energy fast. ‘Stress also boosts your appetite for fatty, sugary, fast-energy foods,' explains Dr Glenville. ‘And they go straight to your middle.'

[quote]Muffin tops are an increasing problem for women of all ages. A national size survey undertaken recently by the government and major retailers reveals we've gained an average of 61/2 in around the waist since the 1950s. ‘Our stressful lifestyle and laddish culture mean the feminine hourglass is morphing into male-pattern weight gain,' says Dr Glenville. This has serious health consequences. An apple shape indicates increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and breast cancer.

Dr Glenville's programme involves eating five times a day, taking anti-stress and fat-burning supplements such as vitamins B and C, magnesium, zinc and amino acids. ‘It's a different approach to ordinary weight loss,' she says. ‘You can eat regularly, maintain blood sugar levels and still lose weight.' She also recommends weight training to boost muscles and metabolism, and taking steps to manage stress. ‘In three months you can lose an average of 7in overall,' she claims. And the best news? Fat goes off the stomach first.

Try this... Eat a little protein with each meal and eat slowly. Snacking on the run means you're not eating calmly. Stress hormones block the digestive system, so food ferments in the gut and causes bloating. ‘Stress-bloating is different from normal flatulence - you wake up with it,' warns Dr Glenville. And be tough on stress: ‘Delegate more, get some me-time and, above all, learn to relax.'

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