Watching horror movies can help you burn calories and lose weight, study suggests

We're always on the lookout for the easiest way to shift some weight.

Going to the gym means going to the gym. Going for a run means going outside. Doing sit-ups means lying down and sitting up, a terrible combination. So what if we told you there was a way to burn calories by sitting down and watching TV? Well - *takes a big pinch of salt* - there is! Researchers at the University of Westminster found that watching scary movies can help burn the calorie equivalent of a small chocolate bar, according to a study commissioned by Lovefilm. In the study, those watching a 90-minute horror movies were likely to burn up to 113 calories, which is roughly the same amount burned on a 30-minute walk. Not bad! Some movies were more successful at burning calories than others, with The Shining (184 calories), Jaws (161 calories) and The Exorcist (158 calories) coming in the top positions. The thinking behind the research is that films with jump scares raised the heart rate. "Each of the 10 films tested set pulses racing, sparking an increase in the heart rate of the case studies," said Dr Richard Mackenzie, specialist in cell metabolism and physiology at the University of Westminster. "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 if you're having a night in and feeling a bit guilty about not hitting the gym, pop on a movie and scare yourself slim. Here are the ten films screened as part of the study. 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: 107 calories 10. [Rec]: 101 calories