At this time of year many people have the best of intentions of getting into shape with a new diet and TV programmes such as Fat Friends show the highs and lows of the nation's dieting mania, but one Corsham couple think they have come up with a new answer

Corsham is days away from becoming home to the UK's first low-carbohydrate slimming club 'BodyHarmony'. The club is the brainchild of husband and wife team Dr Andrew and Dr Amanda Turner, and is designed to support people who have chosen a low-carb lifestyle.

The Turners spent years on low-fat diets, but Mrs Turner started suffering low blood sugar attacks, and her doctor warned her if she stayed on the diet she could develop diabetes.

In her search for an alternative method of weight loss she became interested in the mechanics of dieting and how foods affect our metabolism and hormonal system.

Three years down the line the couple, from Pickwick, Corsham, have developed their own weight-loss method called the 'spectrum plan' which they hope will provide an alternative to established fat-busting, points-counting diets, such as WeightWatchers.

The couple insist the plan is more than a low-carb diet, and provides a

solution to weight loss, which identifies the individual's biological and psychological reasons for weight gain.

They are keen to assure people that their plan is not about crash weight-loss or humiliating weighing and shaming, but is a gradual process, which aims to get to the root of why individuals over eat.

Mrs Turner, 47, weighed 11 stones at her heaviest, while her 44-year-old husband, who works for an IT company, was 14 stones, but since adopting the plan Mrs Turner is eight-and-a-half stone, and her husband has lost two stone.

They can even offer club members Belgian chocolate bars, which are made from real chocolate, but use an artificial sweetener, which means they fall inside the diet's parameters.

"Once you understand the cause of over-eating, you won't have to diet, because you will know how to avoid the problem," said Mrs Turner, who has a doctorate in theoretical physics.

"On a low-fat diet you may lose weight temporarily, but it will come back, because the diet doesn't address the cause of overeating.

"We decided to start the clubs because there was no support for people on low-carb diets. We hope to build up a support network for people."

She admitted the low-carb aspect of the spectrum plan shares similarities with the Atkins diet, which prohibits carbohydrates and has proved popular with celebrities such as Mel Gibson, Clare Sweeney and the cast of hit US sitcom Friends.

Meat, fish, eggs, cheese and fruit are all on the menu, but unlike the Atkins diet the couple's plan is flexible, allowing more vegetables.

"With the Atkins Diet you have to count all the carbs you eat, but we don't do that because we think it can have a negative physiological impact," she said.

"We also take other factors into account. For example if people go on to low-fat diets it can make them feel deprived, which can be negative psychologically.

Some food can also affect people's hormonal balance, which can have an effect on their behaviour."

But Mrs Turner, who used to work for a defence research agency, admitted the couple allowed themselves a day off to enjoy the festive season and she treated herself to some Christmas pudding on Christmas Day.

The couple are planning to open a consultation room in Mead House, Bath Road, next week.

For more information contact Dr Turner on (01249) 712067 or log on to www.body harmony. co.uk