Is 'food porn' making us fat?

A new scientific review suggests the relentless barrage of food images we see might be affecting our attitude to food. Is it time for the government to get involved?

As the name suggests, "food porn" is usually considered a vicarious pleasure. You might not have the time, or the waistline, to make Nigella Lawson's ice cream cake, for example, but, by seeing her making it on TV, you can get at least a little of the thrill without the calories.

However, for those who think it's healthier to look but not touch, there's some bad news. A recent review of scientific studies suggest that excessive looking could actually be making us fatter after all.