Wellness Mind & Body A Fun Way to Beat Those Cravings The next time you've got a serious hankering for sugar, it may help to whip out your smartphone for a gaming break. By News & Views Published on August 4, 2014 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Getty Images The next time you've got a serious hankering for sugar, it may help to whip out your smartphone for a gaming break, new research in the journal Appetite finds. Study participants—who were mostly women—described and rated the intensity of their urges before researchers asked them to play a round of Tetris. For half of them, the game wouldn't load. The group who did get to play slashed their cravings by 24%, compared with a meager 6% reduction among those who didn't. 15 Ways to Lose Weight Without Trying "When people crave something, they're visualizing the sensation and pleasure of indulging in a specific food," says study co-author Jackie Andrade, PhD, of Plymouth University in England. "The game blocks the mental imagery that sustains a craving, since it's hard to play Tetris and picture some-thing else at the same time." Hit the app store so you'll be ready by that 4 o'clock hunger pang! 10 Easy Ways to Slash Sugar from Your Diet Tetris not for you? Any visually absorbing video game should do the trick, including Candy Crush and Bejeweled. 12 Foods That Help You Eat Less Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit