March, and Ken Bobbins from New Jersey is sitting at home in front of the TV with a beer and a cigarette. The year started off so promisingly – he had stopped smoking and drinking for several hours back in January. He had even put on his running shoes. But it was to go no further.

“I think I can probably resign to the fact that I’ve failed.” said Mr Bobbins. “I planned to stop smoking and drinking and get more exercise, but that pretty much went out the window early in January.”

Mr Bobbins plans to make more optimistic resolutions next year.