American Idol judge Simon Cowell is so paranoid about his expanding waistline he has commenced a grueling diet in a bid to slim down.

The music mogul, 48, fears he has put on too much weight as he approaches middle age and is determined to transform his body with a new healthy eating regime.

He says, "When you hit your mid-forties, you kind of pile on the pounds. So I've tried to cut out red meat, biscuits, cakes and desserts and I eat a lot of fruit. I'm basically trying to eat more sensibly."

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)