Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Contact    |    RSS icon Twitter icon Facebook icon  
Unexplained Mysteries
You are viewing: Home > News > Science & Technology > News story
Welcome Guest ( Login or Register )  
All ▾
Search Submit

Science & Technology

Watching horror films can burn calories

By T.K. Randall
October 30, 2012 · Comment icon 43 comments

Image Credit: sxc.hu
New research suggests that you can burn anywhere up to 200 calories watching a horror movie.
As Halloween approaches many people are settling down in the evenings to watch some of the horror classics, but far from the activity of a couch potato it now seems that the adrenaline-pumping action on-screen could cause you to burn off a substantial amount of calories without ever leaving your couch. Terrifying movie moments can increase your heart rate, oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output sufficiently to have a measurable effect on the number of calories burned.

A team at the University of Westminster studied a number of different films to determine which burned the most calories. The Shining scored the top spot followed by Jaws and then The Exorcist in third. Other films to make the list included Paranormal Activity, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Blair Witch Project and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.[!gad]As Halloween approaches many people are settling down in the evenings to watch some of the horror classics, but far from the activity of a couch potato it now seems that the adrenaline-pumping action on-screen could cause you to burn off a substantial amount of calories without ever leaving your couch. Terrifying movie moments can increase your heart rate, oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output sufficiently to have a measurable effect on the number of calories burned.

A team at the University of Westminster studied a number of different films to determine which burned the most calories. The Shining scored the top spot followed by Jaws and then The Exorcist in third. Other films to make the list included Paranormal Activity, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Blair Witch Project and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Viewers who put themselves through 90 minutes of adrenaline-pumping terror can use up as much as 113 calories, close to the amount burned during a half-hour walk and the equivalent to a chocolate bar.


Source: Telegraph | Comments (43)




Other news and articles
Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #34 Posted by Lava_Lady 12 years ago
Not any new one's that I know about,last one I watched was Sinister..not bad but not scary. I watched 28 days later,last week I love that movie!. I haven't seen that one yet, I'll probably have to wait till it comes out on DVD. I did see Insidious by the same director, really enjoyed that. Thanks!
Comment icon #35 Posted by Lava_Lady 12 years ago
Here are some recommendations. Most of them are old, so sorry about that. An American Werewolf in London An American Werewolf in Paris Ginger Snaps Sinister Blair Witch Project The Exorcist The Exorcism of Emily Rose Hellraiser Series Martyrs Devil The Devil Inside (think thats it's name) Mean Creek Cabin Fever The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (or series) The Amityville Horror Nightmare on Elm Street Halloween Friday the 13th Freddy vs Jason Lamberto Bava - Demon's Candyman Psycho The Return of the Living Dead Series Ringu (The Ring) Cat People Skeleton Key Day of the Dead Night of t... [More]
Comment icon #36 Posted by THE MATRIX 12 years ago
So how many calories does watching a porno movie burn?
Comment icon #37 Posted by Bling 12 years ago
So how many calories does watching a porno movie burn? Millions.....allegedly
Comment icon #38 Posted by Catz 12 years ago
Me too, love them but there hasn't been any really good ones out in awhile... any recommendations? I watched Insidious last night. I thought it was very scary. Glad I was not watching it alone! It's about this young boy who is astral projecting while he's dreaming. His soul gets trapped and a demon tries to enter his body.
Comment icon #39 Posted by Lava_Lady 12 years ago
I watched Insidious last night. I thought it was very scary. Glad I was not watching it alone! It's about this young boy who is astral projecting while he's dreaming. His soul gets trapped and a demon tries to enter his body. Hehe... That is a good one, saw it in the theater and every one was screaming!
Comment icon #40 Posted by coldethyl 12 years ago
I love the Tiny Tim music in Insidious.
Comment icon #41 Posted by Lava_Lady 12 years ago
I love the Tiny Tim music in Insidious. It totally added to the creepy factor!
Comment icon #42 Posted by leupgaru 11 years ago
this is full of bull. i always fart when i watch horror movie, cause they are so funny. why do people get scared of horror movie, i don't get it !
Comment icon #43 Posted by CuriousGreek 11 years ago
Err, sorry, i have to go!! i have a job to do in my neighborhood's video club!!!


Please Login or Register to post a comment.


Our new book is out now!
Book cover

The Unexplained Mysteries
Book of Weird News

 AVAILABLE NOW 

Take a walk on the weird side with this compilation of some of the weirdest stories ever to grace the pages of a newspaper.

Click here to learn more

We need your help!
Patreon logo

Support us on Patreon

 BONUS CONTENT 

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee, you can gain access to a wide range of exclusive perks including our popular 'Lost Ghost Stories' series.

Click here to learn more

Recent news and articles