Putting on weight is the number one thing that will knock a woman’s confidence, a study has revealed.

Feeling like they are carrying an extra few kilos, closely followed by having a bad hair day or having bad skin, have more of an effect on how a woman feels when she walks out the front door than having someone be rude to them.

Finding out they have been the subject of gossip also impacts on how a woman starts her day and four out of 10 women said that if someone ignores them their self-esteem plummets.

Despite this most women admit they are their own worst enemy when it comes to feeling bad about themselves with more than a third saying that they are the most likely to knock their own confidence by having negative thoughts and judging themselves too harshly.

The findings emerged in a report in to the confidence of 3000 women in the UK commissioned by Seven Seas Health Oils to mark the launch of the new range.

"People should consider looking after themselves on the inside to ensure they are looking and feeling their best in time for party season and beyond," Sarah Day, Marketing Manager for Seven Seas Health Oils, said.

"Women can feel under real pressure to look good often comparing themselves to their friends and partners which only makes them feel worse. However, the good news is that body confidence increases with age with those over 55 more body confident than those aged 25 to 34."

Only 15 percent of women feel confident enough to happily initiate sex with their partner and just 11 percent of women are confident enough to skinny dip.

A whopping 85 percent said they wished they had more confidence inside and out with nearly seven out of 10 saying that they think they would be happier if they were healthier. In fact, women noted that feeling energetic, looking radiant and being in perfect harmony make them feel confident.

One in six feel less confident without makeup and three in 10 say that feeling tired and lethargic impacts how they feel.

It turns out women have a mean streak too as one in 20 admit they like having an unattractive friend as this makes them feel better about themselves, while a fifth say they would feel more confident if they were better looking than their partner.

Other things that knocked a woman's confidence includes broken and chipped nails, being poorly, getting tagged in unflattering pictures on Facebook and wearing the same outfit as someone else.

 "Often people don'’t think about the impact having good health has on their confidence until there is a problem," Professor of Cardiology and Consultant Cardiologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital Martin Cowie said.

"However putting your health first can boost confidence. The good news is that there are easy steps people can take to make themselves healthier such as exercising regularly, going to bed an hour earlier and ensuring an adequate intake of vitamins as part of a healthy balanced diet."

But the majority of events that make a woman feel bad about herself involve her weight with 30 percent saying that their jeans not doing up wrecks their confidence and one in three say that having a ‘muffin top’ hanging over their trousers effects their self-esteem.

Mood swings, cracking joints and feeling underdressed also made the list of things that ruin a women’s confidence.