The Werewolf diet: Could following the moon help you lose weight?

The Werewolf diet sounds kinda cool. It conjures up images of midnight feasting on meats, tearing through the fridge with your bare hands and probably howling at the moon.

But then you remember that 'werewolf' is followed by the D-word and bump back down to earth when you realise the plan is actually more about fasting than feasting.

Supposedly followed by celebs including Madonna and Demi Moore, the Werewolf diet is a lunar-based eating programme that responds to the phases of the moon - detoxing at the full and new moon - and advocates say you can lose up to six pounds in a single day (unlikely and downright dangerous-sounding).

There are several incarnations of this moon diet, some more hardcore than others. The idea is based on the fact that the phases of the moon affect the earth's tides in bodies of water. And as our bodies are made up for majority water, the magnetic pull affects us too and harnessing its power can help improve our wellbeing and weight loss efforts.

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The diet calls for a detox in the first phases of the moon's cycle, because this is when the pull is strongest. Followers (Werewolves) who do this will embark on a water and juice-only diet for 24 hours.

The power of the moon on the body's water will then intensify the detoxing process (so they say).

But experts have complained that this diet is just another attention-seeking name that glorifies quick fixes over longterm results. The weight lost will mostly be water rather than body fat and will go straight back on again as soon as the dieter begins to eat solid food again.

Apart from the quick cleanse around the full moon option, the extended version continues with specific eating plans around each phase. During the waxing moon you eat less (though don't starve yourself, according to the website Moon Connection) and during the waning moon all food should have been consumed by 6pm (when moon light becomes visible).

Frankly, it sounds just like any other juice cleanse to us. Unsustainable and short term. Plus, not much fun while you're on it. We'll stick to our midnight meat feasts and howling at the moon, thanks.