The University of Newcastle, Australia

An Accredited Practicing Dietitian at the University of Newcastle is calling on households in the Hunter to help Santa's waistline this year.

Associate Professor Clare Collins said people can help Santa's waistline, and their own, by cutting back on excess calories from high fat Christmas sweets.

"Santa will make over 50,000 stops in the Hunter alone this Christmas Eve. If he takes a bite from every 50g slice of Christmas cake left out for him, by the time he leaves the Hunter he will have gained over 65 kilograms and consumed enough fat to fill 34 tubs of margarine," Associate Professor Collins said.

"The average person will also gain 0.5kg this Christmas. We can reduce Santa's, and our own, fat intake by substituting Christmas snacks. Try swapping potato crisps and crackers for vegetable sticks, eating cherries instead of plum pudding, or an apricot instead of a rum ball."

Associate Professor Clare Collins is available for interview from Monday 15 December - Wednesday 17 December via Kate Reid.