A doctor who appeared on Channel 4's programme, Live Well with the Drug-Free Doctor, has said that if you struggle with snacking, it is "not your fault". And there's one thing you can do to tackle the common issue.

Urging people to "fight back", the documentary's host, Dr Rangan Chatterjee, reassured viewers in this position that they are not the only people affected by the issue. He explained that for one patient, their struggle with snacking led them to gain weight despite their best effort to cut back.

He said: "I don't think Chris' food addiction was his fault. And if you struggle to regulate your eating, I don't think it is your fault either."

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He revealed: "The amount of low-quality, high-calorie food that you are being tempted with every time you step out your front door is staggering. But there is something we can start to do today to fight back."

He advised: "Only eat foods your grandmother would recognise. This basically means minimally processed foods, as close to their natural form as possible."

This, according to the health expert, "keeps your blood sugar stable and prevents the overeating driven by ultra-processed foods, which are linked to an estimated 14 per cent of early deaths in the UK."

He further advises: "When you buy something, flip it around. Look at the ingredient label, and if you don't recognise something on it, it's probably best not to eat it."

In fact, he says that snacking is likely not even your fault. He continued: "It is no accident. These food companies are powerful and they make a lot of profit from you eating these kind of foods. In fact, the ultra-processed food industry is worth around $1.9 trillion globally."

During the documentary, it was revealed that Chris, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, wasn't given the diagnosis due to a high consumption of sweets, but rather carbohydrates.

"When Chris got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it wasn't because he was having a huge amount of sweets. It was actually because he was eating loads and loads of starchy carbohydrates", he explained.

The doctor revealed that around a small handful-sized portion of pasta was more harmful than we think. He said: "This amount of pasta can have the same impact on your blood glucose levels as eating six and a half teaspoons of sugar."

Meanwhile, a "sandwich portion of processed white bread contains eight teaspoons of sugar. And a small portion of white rice can have the same impact on your blood glucose levels as consuming 10 teaspoons of sugar."

You can watch Live Well with the Drug-Free Doctor on Channel 4 here.