Israeli scientists have concluded something that many chocaholics already knew – eating chocolate cake is the best way to start the day.

Research by Professor Daniela Jakubowicz of the Wolfson Medical Centre in Holon revealed that breakfasting on a meal high in carbohydrates and protein – but crucially with something sweet as well – helped keep people full throughout the day.

Prof Jakubowicz found that in a study of 193 clinically obese adults, those who enjoyed a balanced breakfast that included chocolate cake, as part of a wider calorie controlled diet, lost more weight than those who had a less calorific morning snack.

Those who chomped on 600 calories every morning lost an average of 33 lbs each after 16 weeks, whereas by the end of the study those who ate just 300 calories had actually put on weight.

The research team found that participants in the low calorie group were more likely to snack secretly on sugary or carbohydrate-heavy foods, whereas those who ate chocolate cake for breakfast exerted more control over the daily eating habits.

Prof Jakubowicz, whose work was published in the Steroids Journal, said: "The group that consumed a bigger breakfast, including dessert, experienced few if any cravings for these foods later in the day.

"Attempting to avoid sweets entirely can create a psychological addiction to these same foods in the long term."