We asked AI for its top 5 tips to lose weight ... here's what it said  trends now

It's a question millions of us have asked for decades — what are the best ways to lose weight? 

Celebs and fitness influencers have touted weight loss pills, meal replacement shakes and supplements, saying they are the secret to their toned, Hollywood-ready physiques. 

But these 'tips' aren't worth the paper they're written on, according to AI.

MailOnline can reveal strenuous workouts, meal prepping and intermittent fasting are among ChatGPT's top five weight loss tips.

And we've published its guide for those who want to test it out. But, be warned —leading experts say approaches to weight-loss are not one-size-fits-all. 

HIIT

Two to three sessions of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) per week was the chatbot's top tip for shredding the pounds.

This workout involves alternating short bursts of intense exercise with low-intensity recovery periods, usually for 30 seconds each, with a typical workout lasting around half an hour.

ChatGPT even provided a list of go-to exercises, which included sprints, burpees, jumping jacks and squats. 

The cardiovascular exercise involves working between 80 to 95 per cent of your maximum heart rate, which is calculated by subtracting your age from 220. 

For example, a 30-year-old would have a maximum heart rate of 190.

The nation's favourite work-out guru Joe Wicks, nicknamed the Body Coach, is an advocate of the trendy workout.

And Australian researchers last year found it was more effective at keeping your waistline in check than traditional aerobic exercise, like running or swimming.

However, Dr Duane Mellor, one of Britain's top dietary researchers, warned exercise can only support weight loss, rather than be the main driver of it. 

He told MailOnline: 'Although HIIT can be the exercise preference for some and can be easier to fit in time-wise, it is not a better type of exercise. 

'In fact, although exercise can help weight management, its contribution to helping weight loss can be limited.'

Meal prepping 

Videos of people batch cooking meals for the week ahead have clocked up billions of views on TikTok — sparking a trend of its own.

But the time-saving and cost-cutting trend is also one of the best ways to maintain a 'healthy and consistent' eating pattern, according to ChatGPT.

It consists of dedicating time in your week to make a big portion of breakfast, lunch and dinner and putting them in containers to be consumed throughout the week. 

The chatbot claims that having meals already prepared will help avoid 'impulsive, unhealthy food choices and promote portion control'.

As a result, dieters can better track what they're eating and their calorie intake, which can help with weight loss. 

Each meal should be balanced and should include lean proteins, whole grains, vegetables and healthy fats, according to the AI chatbot.

The NHS advises you to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables and to drink plenty of fluids each day.

Dr Semiya Aziz, an NHS and private GP, praised meal prepping as an excellent way to control portion size. 

She told MailOnline: 'It often encourages people to think about the varied foods groups needed for a nutritionally balanced meal. 

'This is essential, as when we begin to comprehend the different food types and benefits gained, we begin to eat more healthy foods in general. 

'Preparing meals may also help to aid portion control and avoid the buying of take-aways, which can substantially contain more calories than a home prepared meal.'

Intermittent fasting 

Intermittent fasting — going for extended periods of time without eating followed by a period of eating normally — was the chatbot's third suggestion. 

There are four main types of fasting.