Photos of cake can keep you slim, say psychologists

Picture a thick wedge of rich, velvety Black Forest gateau. Hungry? Unlikely as it sounds, showing weight-conscious women pictures of sweet treats actually strengthens their resolve to eat healthily, rather than encouraging them to cheat.

Advertisers clearly believe images of tasty morsels persuade people to buy but psychologist Floor Kroese of Utrecht University in the Netherlands speculated that temptation might in fact heighten self-control.