You’ve cut out croissants, biscuits and booze and even switched to black coffee and started exercising. So, why can’t you shift those stubborn pounds? It’s time to look beyond your calorie tracker and weekly workouts for the answer. Scientists are fast uncovering a wealth of hidden factors influencing how your body metabolises food.

“It’s not just what you eat, but also how you eat matters and who you are,” says Dr Sarah Berry, associate professor in nutritional science at King’s College London. “For example your age, sex and gut microbes can all impact how you respond to food, as well as how much sleep you’ve had and the time of day that you’re eating.”

The Telegraph London