London, Oct 7 : Ministers in the Nicolas Sarkozy Government are increasingly falling prey to the "Carla Bruni effect", which even inspired the French President to shed pounds.

Under the influence of his supermodel-turned-singer wife, Sarkozy, 54, has been following a gruelling self-improvement regime, and is said to have lost 15 pounds.

And now, he wants people around him to keep up with him.

He is even said to have told one MP to shed pounds if he wants a top job.

In fact, the "Carla effect" appears to have rubbed off on a string of cabinet colleagues who have been politely told that fat is for losers.

And ministers like Brice Hortefeux, the interior minister and one of the president''s closest friends has shown the most spectacular weight loss.

Other including Eric Besson, 51, another of the president''s favoured cabinet figures, Herve Novelli, the 60-year-old trade minister, and Gerard Larcher, 59, president of the senate, are all following strict routines to get in shape.

Sarkozy reportedly told one unnamed MP tipped for a government post that he should change hairstyle and lost "a few kilos" if he wanted the post.

Some of the ministers have even used their dietary efforts as an argument to remain in government. (ANI)