Step away from the George Foreman grill! Hit American book, Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? by Peter Walsh, claims that a kitchen cluttered with gadgets we never use discourages us from spending quality time cooking wholesome food. So say goodbye to the sandwich maker, juicer, fondue set...

THE LIGHTS ARE TOO BRIGHT

There’s a reason why fast-food restaurants are always so brightly lit. “It makes some people feel more awake, which can lead them to eat faster and consume more calories,” explains Dr Nanette Stroebele from the University of Colorado. The perfect excuse for a candlelit supper, then.

YOUR THERMOSTAT'S TOO HIGH

We’re keeping our homes warmer than we used to and it’s making us fat. Turn down your thermostat by a degree and your body will automatically burn more calories to keep you warm.

YOUR BISCUITS ARE ON THE WRONG SHELF

You’re more likely to eat food placed on lower shelves. So put the Penguins up high and you’re less likely to p-p-pick ’em up!

YOU HAVE AN OLD-FASHIONED PHONE

People who pace about when they are on the phone burn 50 more calories an hour than those who sit down to talk. So buy a cordless phone or a hands-free kit and walk while you talk.

YOU'RE PAYING ON PLASTIC

Research shows that when we pay by plastic at the supermarket we spend 30 per cent more on junk food than we would if paying by cash. So leave your cards at home and make sure you only buy the essentials.

YOUR UNDERWEAR IS TOO COMFY

You can get fit just by fidgeting. Scientists from New York found that overweight people don’t fidget as much as their slimmer counterparts. So dig out those uncomfortable pants and hairy jumpers and you could burn an extra 400 calories a day.

YOU'VE SWITCHED TO DIET DRINKS

Tests on animals have found that consuming products containing artificial sweeteners encourages the body to eat more and gain weight. If the same is true in humans, that Diet Coke break might be best left to the skinnies in the ads.

THE TV'S TOO LOUD

There might be nothing more satisfying than a bucket of popcorn and a Desperate Housewives double bill, but by distracting you, the telly makes you eat more than you need. If you have to eat in front of the box, at least turn the volume down – you’ll pay more attention to your food and be less likely to overeat.

YOU HAVE TOO MUCH CHOICE

Finally! Science that explains why we can’t resist bingeing at the buffet table. Recent studies have shown that when we’re faced with lots of food choices, we like to try everything – and consume 40 per cent more calories as a result. Cut down by sticking to a maximum of four different foods at each meal.

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Photography: Getty; What Did I Do Wrong? When Women Don’t Tell Each Other The Friendship Is Over by Liz Pryor (Free Press, £9.99)