And Finally... Imagining to eat food could help you to lose weight, say scientists

By Tony White on Dec 10, 10 08:16 AM in News

As Christmas approaches we're all getting prepared for the customary marathon eating binge and the inevitable New Year (oversized) navel-gazing as we contemplate just how much we porked out.

But apparently there is a solution - by simply imagining that you're stuffing your face with turkey, stuffing and mince pies, you'll be less hungry when faced with the opportunity of eating the real thing.

According to Joachim Vosgerau at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, who was part of the team that conducted the research, the findings could lead to the complete reversal of addiction-management programmes, which usually encourage people to suppress any thought of partaking in something they shouldn't be.

Vosgreau said: "When you quit smoking you constantly get those urges, you're trying to suppress the thoughts. According to our theory you should do the opposite and imagine doing it, drag by drag."

The study focused on mental responses to body conditions, for example the 10th chunk of chocolate not eliciting the same sensory response as the first chunk. This process is considered too rapid for it to be linked to the digestive system, so it is thought that mental issues are at least partly responsible.

The same can also be said for negative input - the nervous sweat response to the thought of a spider crawling up your leg, for example, is often as strong as when it happens for real.

"This research may be a back-up to what we always try and get across, and that is to really focus on your food, giving it all your attention," said UK-based dietician Gaynor Bussell. "By focusing on every mouthful you eat, we know people eat less."

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