Watching Horror Films Can Burn Calories Faster; Which Movies Burn the Most?
This Halloween, most of us will be doing one of two things (or both): Watching scary movies, and gorging ourselves with candy. But you needn't feel guilty after your third 'Friday the 13th' movie and your tenth fun size Snickers bar: a new study has found that watching horror movies can actually burn hundreds of calories! Fire up Netflix and break out the candy corn!
The study in question comes from The University of Westminster (via The Daily Telegraph), which found "90 minutes of adrenaline-pumping terror can use up as much as 113 calories." Naturally, suspense movies literally make pulses quicken and get the blood pumping, which in turn burns off some of those sticky calories you've just consumed.
We'll let Dr Richard Mackenzie of the University explain in a little more detail:
As the pulse quickens and blood pumps around the body faster, the body experiences a surge in adrenaline. It is this release of fast acting adrenaline, produced during short bursts of intense stress (or in this case, brought on by fear), which is known to lower the appetite, increase the Basal Metabolic Rate and ultimately burn a higher level of calories.
So what films proved to be the best calorie-shredders? Take a look at the list:
1. The Shining: 184 calories
2. Jaws: 161 calories
3. The Exorcist: 158 calories
4. Alien: 152 calories
5. Saw: 133 calories
6. A Nightmare on Elm Street: 118 calories
7. Paranormal Activity: 111 calories
8. The Blair Witch Project: 105 calories
9. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 103 calories
10. [Rec]: 101 calories
Definitely a solid assemblage of fright flicks, although there are a handful of notable omissions (no Halloween?!). Appears that if you rack up two or three of these in a night, you'll be sitting pretty. Wet pants notwithstanding.
Tell us, what horror film gave your heart the biggest workout?