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No, we haven’t gone mad. In American, converts to deep breathing exercises claim they’ve lost weight, toned up and banished cellulite – without ever breaking into a sweat. So what could we do, but put it to the test…

Bored of your usual fitness routine? Want to lose weight without exercising or dieting? In that case, say a big cheery hello to Oxycise and LifeLift, weight loss programmes without the exercise. Instead, the focus is on special breathing techniques and gentle stretches that claim to help you lose weigh and tone up without the slog of exercising. Just 15 minutes a day is all it takes, and other health benefits include getting rid of cellulite, increasing strength, improving circulation, reducing stress and boosting energy.

Both these programmes work on the basis that oxygen burns fat and carbohydrates. Dr Ann Rowlands, from the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science, explains. "Fat is made up of oxygen, carbon and hydrogen and when the oxygen we inhale reaches these fat molecules, it breaks them down into carbon dioxide (carbon and oxygen) and water (hydrogen and oxygen). The blood then picks up the carbon dioxide – a waste product of our bodies – and returns it to the lungs to be exhaled. Therefore, the more oxygen our bodies use, the more fat we will burn and release as carbon dioxide. This is why any type of physical exercise burns fat by making the body aerobic, in other words, making it increase its need for, and use of oxygen." The breathing techniques outlined in the Oxycise and LifeLift programmes claim to make the body aerobic without all the hard work – except for a few gentle stretches.

These are two schools of thought on this one. According to research carried out by the America-based International Breath Institute, and a number of testimonials on the Internet from women who have tried the programmes, weight loss is possible simply by breathing deeply. However, Dr Susan Jebb, deputy chairman of the Association on the Study of Obesity, is skeptical. "There is no evidence that you can increase your energy expenditure, and therefore lose weight by taking in more oxygen." Dr Ann Rowlands agrees. "People are given oxygen all the time in hospital, and don’t lose weight. The reason your body uses more oxygen when doing physical exercise is because it needs it for energy. Just breathing deeply doesn’t in itself make your body require more energy and any surplus oxygen will simply be exhaled. Remember, physical exercise has many benefits other than weight control."

We decided there was only one thing for it – to put the programmes to the test, with the help of four M readers. (See over the page for a guide to the basic techniques used in both programmes.)

Weight loss: almost half a stone (from 10st 5lb to 10st)

Inch loss: 4.5 (bust: 1in; waist: 2.5in; hips: 1in)

Verdict: "When I started doing Oxycise, I felt ridiculous doing all that puffing and panting and it didn’t seem to be having any effect. I then went on to level two, which involves more strenuous stretches, and found this more satisfying. I enjoyed taking the deep breaths and felt that all this healthy oxygen was reaching every part of my body. I am going to carry on doing it for half an hour at a time instead of 15 minutes. My cellulite has also improved. Give it a try."