Want to lose weight, quit smoking, or stop drinking? Let's play Tetris

One study showed that playing the game for three minutes reduced cravings for food, alcohol and tobacco by 24%. The never-ending game of Tetris is frustrating for most people, but this never-win game isn’t a waste of time; it can curb your craving for something.

The researchers, from the University of Plymouth - student Jessica Schickabron and professors Jack Andrede and Jon May - tested the exhaustive invasion theory. The theory says that cravings depend on strong visual impact. They say this is the first time the theory has been tested using natural desires. To capture the natural cravings of the 119 study participants (rather than artificially induced in the lab with chocolate or other substances), the researchers asked participants what cravings they were experiencing when they learned they were taking part in the study, on a scale of 1 to 100. Participants completed the Cravings Questionnaire, which measured cravings for power, imagination, vividness, and direction.

The participants sat in front of a computer, and it seemed as if they were asked to play Tetris, or it seemed as if they were asked to download Tetris but not play it. Three minutes later, they were asked the same question: What cravings do you experience when you're playing games or sitting around doing nothing?

The researchers said that of the 119 participants, 80 had cravings: 58 wanted to eat or drink, 10 wanted caffeine, and 12 wanted nicotine. Their desire is high, but that's to be expected. Playing Russia reduced their desire by 24%. Even when the researchers took into account factors like time and low cravings, the link between playing Tetris and reduced desire was still statistically significant.

Obviously, a 24% drop doesn't mean the cravings are gone, but it does mean something. “Tetris reduced both the imaginative and the urgency of desire,” the study results showed. The researchers hypothesize that it is precisely because Tetris is a visual game that it can reduce the intensity of desire.

It may seem strange on the surface, but Tetris does have the power to curb cravings for cigarettes and unhealthy foods. If you ignore the frustrations that come with playing Tetris, it's one of people's favorite games. Besides, if a three-minute game can really effectively suppress the desire, then it is worth downloading and trying it. Maybe next time you will think this is a good choice.