Over half of Britons tried to lose weight at some point last year, according to new research from Mintel, which also highlights some of the key trends and tactics adopted by dieters.

The research has found that two thirds of women in the UK claimed to have tried to lose weight in 2013, while four in ten men also admitted to having thoughts relating to personal weight management.

The findings also conveyed some interesting results in relation to how dieters chose to go about losing their desired amount of weight.

It was found that exercise took priority over making changes to food or drink intake, with physical workouts proving most important for 60 per cent of those questioned.

For those who did decide to make dietary changes, the research shows that 49 per cent chose to cut back on fatty foods, while 48 per cent felt it was vital to eat smaller portions and cut back on sugary foods and drinks.

Interestingly, only a quarter of dieters decided to consume more products labelled as low in sugar or fat.

“The majority of UK adults have tried to slim down in the last year, reflecting the strong societal focus on weight, size and diet," said Emma Clifford, Senior Food Analyst at Mintel. “The fact that exercise tops the nation’s dieting actions reflects high levels of awareness about the importance of exercise to general health and wellbeing, as well as the pleasure that sport gives to many consumers.

“Increasing physical activity to burn more calories may also make people feel less guilty about eating certain foods which is good news for ‘standard’ brands but is not favourable for light and diet products.”

Mintel’s findings also highlight some intriguing uses of methodology adopted by dieters. Online food diaries proved the most popular approach used by 13 per cent of those asked, with dieting apps also prominent with 10 per cent of those taking part in the research.

In terms of the actual diet taken on, the 5:2 diet proved to be the nation’s favourite, with the method picked up by four in ten diet followers. Other popular diets included those low in carbohydrates, such as the Atkins diet, as well as high protein or low fat plans like the Dukan diet.

More information on Mintel's findings, including the impact of personal choices on the diet food market, is available here.