Keeping a food diary helps many people lose weight. Yet taking pictures of the food you eat has been found to be a more accurate way of recording intake, as well as having the added benefit of making people really stop and think about what they're consuming.

These were the findings of a study carried out at the University of Wisconsin, where 43 people recorded what they ate for one week in both words and pictures. When participants were questioned, the photo diaries were reportedly the most effective.

Taking snapshots of each meal was also quicker and less laborious than writing everything down and provided powerful images of binge eating.

What's more, the photos provided thought-provoking images just at the right time: immediately before people were going to eat meals.