The research team discovered that alginate, a fibre found in sea kelp, reduced fat uptake by more than 75 per cent.

Clinical trials have now begun to gage the weight loss effect when added to commonly eaten products included in a normal diet.

The scientists testing 60 natural fibres, in an artificial gut, to see how they affected the digestion of fat.

Their findings were presented at the American Chemical Society's spring meeting in San Francisco.