Online game "can control snacking"

• June 26, 2015
• Health Section

A computer game can help control some people, their habits unhealthy snacks, suggests a small study at the University of Exeter.

Avoid pressing formed the brains of the game participants cutting calories pictures say some images, such as biscuits and chocolate.

They lost a little weight and seemed less calories for up to six months to eat.

The game takes 10 minutes four times a week to play.

Forty-one people participated in the study, published in the journal Appetite published.

Most were overweight, and all said they ate high calorie snacks such as chips, cookies, cakes, chocolate, at least three times a week.

Train the Brain

The online game, developed by psychologists at the University of Exeter and the University of Cardiff, used techniques of "brain training" to change behavior - in this case, to resist unhealthy snacks.

He led the people to avoid pressing a key while unhealthy foods appeared on the screen.

This type of training helps people combine this with unhealthy foods "in" the researchers said.

The results were compared with another group of 41 adults who completed the same training, but compared to non-food images.

The results showed that participants lost an average of 1.5 pounds (0.7 kg) and about 220 calories less per day during the training week consumed.

daily food suggested in the next six months, the participants held their better habits.

Dr. Natalia Lawrence from the University of Exeter, who led the study, said the game had the ability to change eating behavior by some people, but still in its infancy.

"This research is still in its infancy and the effects are modest. Large, tests should be taken recorded with long-term measures.

"Our findings, however, that this cognitive approach to develop training punishment:. Free, easy to make and 88% of participants said they would be willing to keep doing it"

He said that such training could be seen as part of a weight loss program or used to improve eating habits.