Research has revealed that watching horror films can help you lose weight
Sounds like the perfect sort of exercise...
Watching movies is something of a favourite thing to do for us and we know that many people enjoy this as a hobby as well.
Usually, watching movies isn't associated with a healthy form of exercise because it has people sitting on the couch for long periods of time.
The term that comes to mind is couch potato.
However, it seems that research has altered people's perceptions when it comes to watching movies. In particular, horror movies and their association with weight loss.
"A 90-minute horror movie can help you burn about 150 calories, the same as a quick jog or a 30-minute walk, according to researchers at the University of Westminster." (MSN)
That definitely does sound too good to be true.
If you're wondering how this works, here's a brief description.
"The study, funded by the movie rental company Lovefilm, included ten participants who watched ten different horror films while wearing equipment that measured their heart rate, oxygen intake, and carbon dioxide output. The researchers discovered that watching a horror movie increased the participants' heart rate and metabolism, resulting in more calories burned." (MSN)
The amount of calories was dependent on the individual and the type of horror movie, but generally a 90-minute horror movie had participants burning an average of 150 calories.
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Who knew fear could be a great catalyst for losing weight?
The Shining (184 calories), Jaws (161 calories), and The Exorcist (158 calories) ranked as the top three horror films that caused viewers' "heart rates and adrenaline levels to spike".
According to Dr Richard Mackenzie, senior lecturer and specialist in cell metabolism and physiology at the University of Westminster, the adrenaline that is produced "during short bursts of intense stress" is the reason behind lowering the appetite and increasing the metabolism, which allows for the burning of calories.
We guess more people will be watching horror movies to get that summer body ready for the festive season...
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