Study: Horror films burn calories

Published: Oct. 29, 2012 at 4:46 PM

WESTMINSTER, England, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Scientists at a British university said their research indicates horror movie viewers could burn up to 113 calories in 90 minutes.

Dr. Richard Mackenzie of the University of Westminster, England, said he and his team monitored the heart rate, oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output of people watching scary movies and discovered some of them were burning the same amount of calories found in a chocolate bar, The Mirror reported Monday.

"The 10 films tested set pulses racing," Mackenzie said. "Adrenaline is known to lower the appetite, increase the basal metabolic rate and ultimately burn calories."

Mackenzie said those watching "The Shining" burned an average 184 calories viewing the film, while "Jaws" viewers burned 161 calories, those watching "The Exorcist" burned 158, "Alien" watchers burned 152 and "Saw" watchers burned 133.

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Study: Horror films burn calories