Weight Loss and TETRIS...Hmmm???

A weak willpower, the stumbling block of so many dieters and would-be ex smokers, may have been defeated by psychologists armed with a simple retro game.

According to a new study, playing the tile-matching puzzle Tetris for three minutes could cut cravings by almost a quarter.

The visual stimulation offered by the game provided an "essential boost for willpower," researchers claim.

Psychologists believe the effects of the popular tile-matching puzzle could give a “quick and manageable" fix for people struggling to stick to diets, or quit smoking or drinking.

“Episodes of craving normally only last a few minutes, during which time an individual is visualising what they want and the reward it will bring,” Professor Jackie Andrade said, who conducted the research with Jon May, from Plymouth University's Cognition Institute, and PhD student Jessica Skorka-Brown.