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RICHARD Madeley has revealed how he stays slim at 65, thanks to a very simple diet trick.

The Good Morning Britain host revealed how this easy hack even helped him lose three stone after he gained weight during a break from being on telly.

Richard revealed he stays trim using a simple secret
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Richard revealed he stays trim using a simple secret
The star, with wife Judy Finnigan, says he gained three stone during a break from TV
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The star, with wife Judy Finnigan, says he gained three stone during a break from TVCredit: PA
Richard and Judy used to present This Morning together
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Richard and Judy used to present This Morning togetherCredit: Rex

On this morning's episode of the ITV show, Richard and his co-presenter Kate Garraway were discussing the new law that is coming into force on Wednesday, April 6, which will mean large cafes and restaurants have to list calorie information on menus.

It will affect any food business that employs more than 250 people.

Introducing the debate, Richard revealed that simple calorie counting allows him to maintain his trim physique.

He said: "Full disclosure here, when I stopped doing daily television with my missus [Judy Finnigan] some years ago, I was sort of off the box really for about two years, I had a nice long rest and I put two and a half, three stone on.

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"I lost it by calorie counting, so I am just speaking from personal experience, it worked for me."

The debate saw journalist and broadcaster Ateh Jewel argue, however, that the steps wouldn't do much for combating the obesity problem.

"To me it's like putting a plaster on an exploding dam," she said.

Dr Hilary Jones countered that counting calories "can be useful" but warned it was "not the be all and end all" for weight loss.

Richard then revealed that he has cut down on a certain food after learning it wasn't as healthy as he first thought.

"I agree with Kate, calories counting can be very surprising and can inform choices," he said.

"I was listening to the very entertaining Steve Allen, the LBC DJ who does the early breakfast show this morning and he was saying he used to think pitta bread was very healthy.

"It is stuffed full of calories. I had the exact same experience, and it meant I cut down on pitta bread."

Viewers at home were shocked by this revelation.

One said on twitter: "Now Pitta bread is off the menu, 275 calories per 100g how can something so innocent looking be so calorific."

But not everyone was convinced labelling calories on menus would help people make healthy choices.

A GMB poll showed that 82% said calories on menus would not combat the obesity problem.

Richard then quizzed Dr Hilary on how many calories were in a cheesburger from McDonald's, revealing it was just 300.

"It's not that many," Richard marvelled.

His reponse didn't go down that well with some viewers though.

"Nice little advert there from promoting the mc burger as having low calories!!!" one fan vented. "What about the salt and sugar content…. Think before you speak , and stop trying to be down with kids!!!!!

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Despite the fiery reaction on twitter, Richard concluded of the debate: "Well, like a balanced diet, that was a balanced conversation."

"And calorie free," Kate quipped.

Richard quizzed Dr Hilary about how many calories are in a McDonald's cheeseburger
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Richard quizzed Dr Hilary about how many calories are in a McDonald's cheeseburger
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