Watching videos of burgers and cake could help dieters resist cravings, study suggests
Watching videos of indulgent foods like burgers and cake may help dieters manage cravings and reduce actual consumption, according to a study involving 840 participants. Dieters spent more time viewing high-calorie food clips than non-dieters but subsequently ate less chocolate in controlled tests. Researchers suggest visual exposure might partially satisfy cravings through a phenomenon called 'cross-modal satiation.' However, the effect may not apply to everyone, especially those with impulsive or binge eating tendencies.
- ▪A study by the University of Bristol and the University at Buffalo found that dieters who watched videos of unhealthy foods spent more time viewing them but consumed less chocolate afterward.
- ▪The research, published in Computers in Human Behavior, involved 840 participants aged 19 to 77 across multiple experiments.
- ▪Scientists propose 'cross-modal satiation' as a possible explanation, where visual stimulation reduces the desire to eat.
- ▪Experts caution that while some may benefit, people with binge eating or impulsive eating behaviors might experience increased cravings from such content.
- ▪The study's findings are based on short-term, lab-controlled settings and do not confirm long-term or real-world dieting outcomes.
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Diet Trends Watching videos of burgers and cake could help dieters resist cravings, study suggests Dieters spent more time viewing unhealthy food clips but consumed less chocolate than non-dieters By Deirdre Bardolf Fox News Published April 28, 2026 4:00pm EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Mediterranean chef says simple olive oil trick can help curb cravings Suzy Karadsheh, chef, author and founder of The Mediterranean Dish website, explains why incorporating generous amounts of olive oil can promote fullness and reduce reliance on ultra-processed snacks throughout the day.
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