Individuals hoping to drop weight for the Christmas party season may appreciate fruit baskets to help them stick to their resolve.

A new survey by Atkins has shown that 53.7 per cent of women diet before the festive season, with 63 per cent of those between 25 and 34 years old admitting to this, the Daily Mail reports.

It is now six weeks until office parties begin to take place and October 25th has been cited as the perfect day to start losing the pounds in order to get in shape for celebrations.

The organisation has designated this date as LBD Day in honour of the little black dress that is often perfect for parties and is stressing the importance of sensible weight loss.

"Sign-up to start your diet on LBD Day and you will leave yourself a realistic time-frame to reach your weight-loss goals," said Atkins chief nutritionist Linda O’Byrne.

Those giving fruit baskets may wish to include strawberries, as new research by European experts has indicated the food may have a protective effect on the stomach when drinking alcohol.