So, watching horror films could actually help shed those pounds

Nov 5, 2017

Everyone has their own go-to method when it comes to loosing that extra bit of weight – but let's face it, none of them are ever as easy as they sound.

Whether is a strict workout routine or simply cutting back on the office snacks, every technique requires equal doses of motivation, willpower and determination.

But what if we told you that there was a much simpler way to shed those extra few pounds?

Well, a study conducted by the University of Westminster, revealed that action-packed horror films can see viewers burn up to 113 calories per session.

For the study, scientists measured participant's heart rate, oxygen and carbon dioxide output as they watched various scary movies.

By the end of the screening, results showed that the number of calories each viewer burned had increased by approximately 30 per cent.

What's more, the more “jump-scares” a film has, the more likely viewers are to burn a higher number of calories.

According to Indy100, Physiologist, Dr Richard Mackenzie, who carried out the test said:

“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.”

Researchers tested the a selection of horror films to see which burned the most calories.

Here's the top 10: