What has your dress size got to do with your dinner plate? Quite a bit, actually. That's because the size of your dishes -- and utensils, for that matter -- can influence how much you eat and how much you weigh, according to a Cornell University study.

The researchers had one group of participants serve themselves ice cream using larger (34-ounce) bowls, and another group using smaller (17-ounce) bowls. The result: Those with larger bowls scooped and consumed 31 percent more ice cream than those with smaller bowls.

It's the same with utensils: Participants were given either a larger (3-ounce) ice-cream scoop or a smaller (2-ounce) one. Those who used the bigger scoop took 14.5 percent more than those with the smaller scoop.

The reason for the difference, say the researchers, is that visual cues alter our perception of portion sizes. So when presented with a bigger dish or utensil, we tend to over-serve and therefore overeat -- a classic case of portion distortion. If you want to eat less, downsize your plates and bowls.