Never mind costly fat jabs – scientists have found a much simpler and cheaper way to lose weight.
Research shows playing a favourite tune or song during mealtimes can curb cravings for fattening and sugary foods.
But listening to tracks you hate while eating has the opposite effect, driving your taste buds to desire unhealthy treats or snacks.
Poor diet is a major factor behind Britain’s obesity crisis. Government statistics show one in four adults in the UK is classed as dangerously overweight.
Demand for fat-busting jabs has soared as overeaters seek a quick fix for their weight problems.
But the study, by a team of experts at the University of Graz in Austria, suggests simple interventions such as choosing the right music at dinner could be an alternative way to tackle the problem. They recruited 106 men and women in their 20s and asked half of them to select a much-loved piece of music.
The rest were told to select something that they really disliked and hated listening to.
The volunteers were then presented with a table full of plates with sweets or grapes on them. They were told to listen to their chosen tunes through headphones while looking at the table of goodies – cameras then tracked their eye movements to monitor which snack they were most drawn to.
Never mind costly fat jabs like Ozempic, scientists have found a much simpler and cheaper way to lose weight – listening to music
Research shows playing a favourite tune or song during mealtimes can curb cravings for fattening and sugary foods (stock photo)
Volunteers were also asked which of the available treats they would rather eat.
The results, in the journal Appetite, showed that those forced to listen to songs they didn’t like were more likely to opt for the sugary sweets.
Favourite tunes, however, prompted recruits to pick the healthier option of grapes to snack on. The researchers said music is known to affect mood – which, in turn, can influence food choices.
In a report on their findings, researchers added: ‘Given the established links between mood and appetite, music may offer a promising tool for promoting healthier eating behaviours.
‘Our findings indicate that music may help reduce appetite and limit overeating.’