You can minimise the chance of this by making permanent changes to your lifestyle - by switching to low-calorie drinks and low-fat spreads, for example, or by eating smaller portions.

Mix alcoholic drinks with low-calorie soft drinks and water.

And anyone who is on a diet is familiar with artificial sweeteners - they are a big part of the dieting scene because they make low-calorie soft drinks and desserts possible.

We might find that those who lost weight were likely to increase their fruit intake, to exercise more, and to substitute sugary drinks for low-calorie drinks.

Even low-calorie alcoholic drinks, though they are a great improvement, are all too high in calories.

But here again, there are better choices, like hot soups and low-calorie drinks, that can warm body and soul without piling on pounds.

Mr. Isdell said that much of that additional spending would be focused on low-calorie drinks and on making further inroads in developing markets elsewhere in the world.

In place of your glass of wine in the evening, opt for low-calorie soft drinks, malt drinks, tea, coffee or hot chocolate made with lower-fat milk.

Some research suggests that people who drink no- or low-calorie drinks might actually end up eating more, Mattes says.

You could save money by buying low-calorie pre-sweetened drink mixes and pepping them up with a touch of sparkling soda.