Read on for the summary, results and survey graphs.

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Who responded?

201 people of which 82% were female

Age groups

The greatest number of respondents were in the 25-34 age group.
16% - 18-24 years, 39% - 25-34 years, 21% - 35-44 years, 18% - 45-54, 6% > 55 years

Current eating habits

49.5% - Some days I watch what I eat and others I don't: This is how half of subscribers described their eating habits. This could mean that not watching what you eat is just part of the healthy balance, or more likely, that there are "some days" where you could really do with a hand to keep your diet on track.

41% - I carefully watch what I eat every day: Almost all of the rest seem to be pretty careful about what they eat, which could mean subscribers are a healthy bunch keen on good nutrition.

6.5% - I am obcessive about what I eat: A small proportion said they go to far in their efforts to eat a healthy diet.

3% - I don't give it any thought. I eat what I like: Only 6 people said don't even think about what they eat. If they are eating a healthy diet naturally, this is good. But it may mean it's time for a wake-up call to sought their diet out.

How often does dieting go off track?

Half have up to 2 days a week where their diet plan goes off track. This could be good weekend flexibiilty that keeps a balance.

The other half (42%) spend 3 or more days a week off their diet to some degree, highlighting the challenge of healthy eating. Some 12% have 5 or more days off track, which means it's time to work out why and look at ways to make healthy eating work.

Feelings about your diet

The responses to a list of statements about healthy eating also indicate that subscribers eat a healthy diet most of the time, and that physical activity plays an important role in balancing dietary excesses.

Half (51%) said "My diet is healthy except for what I eat when I get cravings", which indicates managing times when cravings hit is an important strategy to keep your diet on track.

Around 40% said, "I balance my dietary excesss with physical activity to burn up the calories". This shows you may have a good energy balance, or feel pressure to exercise to stay in shape. In any case, managing weight is a string motivator to exercise. A third (33%) would rather exercise more than go without food, whereas only 4% said they'd rather go without food than exercise. This also shows how important regular exercise is to stay in shape.

Only 7% said they can get away with eating or drinking a lot because of a fast metabolism. Once again, balancing diet and exercise to stay in shape is vitally important.

Confidence about healthy eating

Half (51%) were "very confident" that they would be eating healthy in 6 months. This means that another half have some doubts about being able to stick to a good diet. A third (33%) were "somewhat confident" and 10% were 'neutral' in confidence. Only 6% were somewhat or very unconfident.

What would make it easier to eat healthier more often?

There were 138 suggestions here, which show what you may need to work on to improve your or your clients' diets.

The top 10 things that would make it easier, include:

1. Having more time or a less demanding lifestyle
2. Planning
3. Greater availability of healthy foods
4. Having more support from family and friends
5. Dealing with cravings and emotional eating
6. A full-time cook
7. Cheaper healthy foods
8. Having a plan to stick to
9. Healthy recipes
10. Managing eating triggers

What else we learnt

Although the survey numbers are not great enough to give significant statistical correlations, there were some interesting trends that could suggest how dieting really works for people.

• Men are more likely to use exercise to burn up dietary excesses
• Men have more days a week off their diet
• The more days your diet stays on track the more confident you'll be that you'll be eating healthy in the future
• Being unconfident about sticking to a healthy diet may be influenced by a pattern of jumping on and off diets