They have finally confessed it – nearly every woman owns a secret pair of “skinny jeans” which she hopes to diet her way back into, a new australian study has found.

What’s more, study by the Young Women’s Christian Association found that about 70 per cent admit holding onto the hope that too small clothes will eventually fit them.

However, experts have warned women about the dangers of 

dieting, reports The Courier Mail.

Body image expert Professor Marika Tiggemann said that while women spent time, money and energy on worrying about being thinner, it was “a waste”.

The expert added that many women suffered under the “false hope” they were going to drop several sizes.

“Most of the advice you get from the positive body image stuff is to throw away things that don’t fit and buy good clothes that fit you now,’’ she said.

The survey also found three-quarters of women were unhappy with their body size.