Have you ever started a weight-loss program, stuck with it for a few weeks, only to fall off the wagon and start eating junk food again? Don’t worry, it’s very common, and even has a name – yo-yo dieting.

But now, new research has revealed that switching between healthy and unhealthy foods can increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes, more so than just consistently eating unhealthy food.

The findings suggest those who engage in stop-start dieting are putting themselves at much greater risk of developing health problems later in life.

“We still need to do more studies in this field but the findings suggest the more restrictive the diet is, the worse the health outcomes may be,” says Dr Aline de Souza, co-author of the study.

“Weight loss diets need careful consideration of long-term health, especially if rapid weight loss is being contemplated as an option.”

Have you been guilty of ‘yo-yo dieting’ in the past?