If you're planning on working off that (extra) serve of fried chicken at the gym in the morning here's some news: tomorrow might be too late – your waistline will have already started expanding before you've hit the treadmill, according to researchers at Oxford University.

Contrary to previous beliefs that fat was accumulated and stored in the body gradually, this new study reveals that the fat in foods enters our bloodstream only an hour after being ingested. It's then quickly "caught" and converted into fatty tissue and stored around the waist. This entire process can take place in as little as three to four hours, researchers say.

One of the scientists behind the findings, Professor Karpe, said "The process is very fast. The cells in the adipose tissue around the waist catch the fat droplets as the blood carries them by, and then incorporate them into the cells for storage."

And the fat isn't just sticking to our tummies. Extra padding around the waist is only meant for short-term storage, but excessive eating, combined with little to no exercise, leads to the transportation of fat around the rear and thighs for the long-term.