Strictly Come Dancing star Carol Smilie has revealed she has lost half a stone since joining the BBC programme.

Smilie, 44, has watched the weight drop off as she rehearses five hours a day with her dancing partner Mathew Cutler.

She said: �I didn�t need to lose a lot of weight. I�ve gained a lot of muscle � I could rival Arnold Schwarzenegger.�

Smilie was voted off the show on Saturday, but she will be pleased to know that Strictly Come Dancing has inspired the government into taking real action against obesity.

It has been reported today that ballroom dancing classes will soon be available on the NHS in a bid to battle Britain�s bulge.