A new app, which aims to help people lose weight in a healthy way, has been launched by Safefood.

The 'weight-mate' app helps people to set realistic goals and features a daily weight and physical activity tracker. It also contains over 400 calorie-counted recipes that have been developed by nutritionists.

There is also a ‘groups' function on the app, which allows people to set up their own weight loss or exercise groups in their community or workplace, or join an existing group in their local area.

"When it comes to weight loss, the facts of the matter are that quick-fix, fad diets are unsustainable and ineffective and we know that it only leads to people ‘yo-yo' dieting and regaining the weight they've lost, or in some cases, even becoming heavier," commented Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan of Safefood.

Almost two in three adults in Ireland are overweight or obese and recent research indicates that 35% of adults are currently trying to lose weight.

"Our weight-mate app helps people to set goals, make realistic plans to eat better and exercise more and monitor those. We know from behaviour change studies that these techniques help people to stick with healthier habits for the long-term. Our app is aimed at the general adult population, not associated with any commercial product and developed by qualified nutritionists," Dr Foley-Nolan said.

She emphasised that what ever starting weight a person is, losing 5-10% of your total body weight and keeping it off ‘will lead to definite improvements in blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugars'.

"For example, for a man who weighs 15 stone, a weight loss of 10% will be 1.5 stone, bringing his weight down to 13.5 stone. For a woman who weighs 11 stone, a 10% weight loss is just over a stone at 15 pounds. It's really good news that this relatively modest weight loss can decrease your risk factors for chronic diseases related to obesity," she explained.

Launching the new app, the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, said that while being healthy ‘starts with personal responsibility, the Government also has a role to play'.

"That's why we are supporting weight-mate, and why we are also pressing ahead with new legislation to make calorie information compulsory on food displays," he commented.

Weight-mate is free to download for both iPhone and Android smartphones and is available in the App Store and Google Play.