Researchers tested whether a simple brain-training game could help teenagers resist tempting foods. In this small study, 43 teens played a game designed to improve their ability to say “no” to food cues, then participated in a taste test. The results suggest that this type of training might help reduce how much attention teens pay to unhealthy snacks and could be connected to eating habits. While the findings are promising, scientists say larger studies are needed to confirm whether this approach could help prevent eating problems and support healthier eating in teenagers.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a brain-training game that teaches you to ignore certain signals can help teenagers pay less attention to tempting foods and eat less of them
  • Who participated: 43 teenagers (average age 15 years old, mostly girls) without eating disorders who were randomly split into two groups—one that did the brain training and one that didn’t
  • Key finding: Teens who did the brain-training game showed some improvement in ignoring food cues, and there were hints that better self-control was linked to eating less sugar and having fewer binge-eating urges
  • What it means for you: This research suggests brain training might be a helpful tool for teenagers to manage food choices, but it’s still very early. Think of it like a promising experiment that needs bigger, longer studies before doctors would recommend it as a real treatment

The Research Details

This was a small test run of a new idea, called a pilot study. Researchers invited 43 teenagers to participate and randomly divided them into two groups. One group played a special computer game called “go/no go” that trains your brain to respond quickly to some signals but ignore others—in this case, ignoring pictures of tasty foods. The other group didn’t play this game and served as a comparison. All participants then took part in a taste test where they could eat snacks, and they answered questions about their eating habits and feelings about food.

Some of the teenagers also did extra tasks: 15 wore special glasses that tracked where their eyes looked (to see if they were paying attention to food pictures), and 19 did additional thinking games. This mix of measurements helped researchers understand different aspects of how the brain controls food choices.

The study was published in a journal that focuses on testing new research ideas before they’re studied on a larger scale. This type of early-stage research is important because it helps scientists figure out if an idea is worth studying with more people.

Understanding how the brain controls eating choices is important because many teenagers struggle with unhealthy eating habits. If scientists can find ways to strengthen the brain’s ability to resist tempting foods, it might help prevent eating disorders and obesity. This study looked at whether training a specific brain skill—the ability to ignore certain signals—could be a simple, non-medication way to help teenagers make better food choices.

This was a well-designed study in some ways: it randomly assigned people to groups, which helps rule out bias. However, it’s important to know that 43 people is a very small sample size. The researchers themselves noted this is just a “feasibility” study, meaning they were mainly testing whether the idea could work and whether they could measure it properly. Only some participants did all the extra measurements (eye tracking and thinking games), which means those findings are based on even smaller groups. The results are described as “preliminary,” which means they’re hints of what might be true, not proof.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that teenagers who played the brain-training game showed some improvement in how they paid attention to food pictures. Instead of automatically looking at pictures of tasty snacks, their eyes and attention seemed to shift away more easily. This suggests the training might have helped their brains get better at ignoring food cues.

When researchers looked at all the teenagers together (both groups combined), they found connections between having better self-control and eating less sugar, having fewer binge-eating episodes, and being more thoughtful about food choices. These connections were interesting but not super strong, which is why researchers want to study this more carefully with larger groups.

The taste test results—how much food teenagers actually ate during the study—showed some patterns, but they weren’t strong enough to say the training definitely changed eating behavior. This is partly because the study was small and only happened once.

The researchers also looked at whether the brain-training game affected how much teenagers wanted to eat tasty foods (called hedonic appetite). There were some hints that it might help, but the evidence wasn’t strong. The study also found that teenagers with better self-control tended to eat more thoughtfully and were less likely to have binge-eating symptoms, which makes sense—if your brain is better at saying “no,” you probably make more intentional food choices.

This study builds on earlier research showing that our brains have a special system for controlling impulses and that this system affects eating behavior. Previous studies in adults suggested that brain-training games might help with food choices, but there wasn’t much research in teenagers. This study is one of the first to test this idea in young people, which is important because teenagers’ brains are still developing and might respond differently than adults.

The biggest limitation is the small size—43 teenagers isn’t enough to prove something works. Some measurements were only done on a few participants, making those findings even less certain. The study only happened once in a laboratory setting, so we don’t know if the effects would last over time or work in real-life situations where teenagers face actual food choices. We also don’t know if the results would be the same for boys, since 72% of participants were girls. Finally, all participants were teenagers without eating disorders, so we can’t say if this would help teenagers who already struggle with disordered eating.

The Bottom Line

Based on this early research, brain-training games for food control are not yet ready to recommend as a treatment. However, the results are interesting enough that larger studies should be done. If you’re a teenager interested in making better food choices, this research suggests that practicing self-control in general (through games, mindfulness, or other methods) might help, but more evidence is needed. Talk to a doctor or nutritionist for proven strategies right now.

This research is most relevant to teenagers who want to improve their eating habits and to parents, teachers, and health professionals who work with young people. It’s also important for researchers studying eating behavior and prevention of eating disorders. People with diagnosed eating disorders should work with specialists rather than relying on brain-training games alone. This research doesn’t yet apply to younger children or adults.

If this approach were to become a real treatment, it would likely take weeks or months of regular practice to see meaningful changes in eating behavior. This study only tested one session, so we don’t know the realistic timeline. Larger studies would need to track teenagers over weeks or months to see if benefits last.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily instances where you successfully resisted a tempting food or made a conscious choice about what to eat. Record: (1) the food temptation, (2) whether you resisted or indulged, and (3) how you felt. This creates a measurable record of self-control moments.
  • Use an app-based version of the go/no go game (if available) as a daily 5-minute brain-training exercise, then track your food choices throughout the day to see if the training helps you make more intentional eating decisions. Pair this with a food diary to monitor patterns.
  • Over 4-6 weeks, track: (1) frequency of completing the brain-training game, (2) number of conscious food choices made daily, (3) instances of binge eating or loss of control, and (4) overall satisfaction with eating habits. Look for trends rather than expecting immediate changes.

This research is preliminary and based on a small study of 43 teenagers. The findings suggest possible benefits but are not yet proven. Brain-training games should not replace evidence-based treatments for eating disorders or obesity. If you or someone you know struggles with disordered eating, binge eating, or unhealthy eating patterns, please consult with a healthcare provider, registered dietitian, or mental health professional. This information is for educational purposes and should not be used as medical advice.