Health & Fitness - November issue 2003

Eat right - Diet watch

The Diet: Novo from Immogenics (£350).

The Promise: 'To reduce weight, without reducing calorie intake, by measuring inflammatory response to foods.'

How it Works: A blood analysis measures your inflammatory response to over 100 foods. This leads to a bespoke diet programme based on eliminating foods you react to - foods which supposedly impact on your ability to convert stored fat to energy.

Best Part: 'Eating normal portions while still losing weight,' says tester Annalie Cook, 28, from Macclesfield. 'I also had lots of energy and virtually no wind!'

Worst part: 'Cutting out some of my favourite foods, such as coffee, tomatoes and milk.'

Expert Verdict: 'This diet has nutty nutritional claims such as 'bespoke tailoring', that capitalise on everyone's physiology being different,' says dietician Catherine Collins. 'I remain to be convinced by it.'

Contact: Novo is available through spas, gyms and clinics. Call 0031 46 45 72 800 or see www.immogenics.com