Horror movie enthusiasts have a silver lining: Their next film night could be a calorie-burning affair. A study done in 2012 by researchers at the University of Westminster showed that watching a 90-minute horror film can burn as many as 184 calories, which is about the same as a brisk 30-minute walk.
The calorie-burning comes from an increased heart rate, a quickened pulse, and the release of adrenaline in the body from fright or shock. These physiological responses mimic mild physical exercise and result in a temporary boost to metabolism. In practical terms, when a person jumps at a scary scene, their body goes into the “fight or flight” mode of the “sympathetic” nervous system, in which stored energy is depleted.
Most Calorie-Consuming Scares
The researchers measured the heartbeats per minute, as well as the oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production, of the subjects being tested while they viewed 10 selected horror films. The top film was Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, which caused an average calorie expenditure of 184 calories. Jaws was next at 161 calories, followed by The Exorcist at 158 calories. Other titles raising the caloric burnout were Alien, Saw, and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Interestingly enough, the films that produced maximum calories burned were those that produced constant suspense and sudden frights. As the heart sped up in the viewer and increased its beats per minute, there was increased energy consumption. The study also noted that the anticipation of fright, the anxious moments before the fright, was largely responsible for increased expenditure of energy. This indicates that psychological fright is as effective as physiological fright on the body.
Fear and Energy: The Science
When we feel fear, the body releases adrenaline, which prepares us to fight or flee from a perceived threat. This sudden burst of hormones increases blood flow, oxygen consumption, and alertness, all requiring energy. This is not to say that a scare cannot be a substitute for your usual workout, but it does point out how closely our psychological and physical results are related.
Dr. Richard Mackenzie, lead researcher of the study, explained, “The heart rate increases, blood is circulated in greater amounts, and the body receives a rush of adrenaline, all of which are known to simulate feelings of loss of appetite, increases of metabolic processes, and use greater units of energy.”
A Guaranteed Calorie Burn, Not an Exercise Program
Although the concept of achieving some of our weight loss through horror films is attractive, specialists are quick to point out that it should not be considered a regular exercise means. Scary movies afford us an occasional and pleasant calorie burn, but are not productive as an exercise regimen. However, it is a pleasant reminder that even passive forms give rise to real physical results.
So the next time you prepare to watch The Shining or The Conjuring, remember, the screams may be nothing more than the physical systems of your body advantageously alerting it to exercise.
