THE QUEST FOR ZERO

According to the online poll by TV channel LIVING, 90% of people are anxious about their weight and 65% have tried dieting by starving themselves.

Almost one in five believed in the statement: “If I am thinner, I will be happier.”

The survey of more than 300 men and women also revealed the most popular crash diets.

A total of 20% favoured the Atkins diet, while 12.4% preferred the Cabbage Soup diet. Other extreme diets mentioned included drinking vinegar, laxative-only diets and the South Beach Diet.

LIVING will be showing a one-off documentary on Monday night, examining the extremes to which celebrities will go to be thin.

A spokeswoman for the channel said: “Dieting is still at the forefront of everyone’s minds, especially with celebrities shrinking before our eyes and with summer approaching and bikinis and summer dresses to fit in to.”

The quest for size zero is still the most talked about celebrity news issue and shows no signs of abating

A spokeswoman for LIVING TV

“The quest for size zero is still the most talked about celebrity news issue and shows no signs of abating.

“Problems including insomnia, hair loss, fatigue, fertility issues, osteoporosis, kidney issues and extreme ageing are just some of the many side effects from extreme dieting and the worrying epidemic is still in full flow.”