研究：看恐怖片能減肥
Watching a horror film could burn off a whole bar of chocolate, according to new research released today.
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.
The movie top of the list of calorie-burners was found to be the 1980 psychological thriller The Shining, with the average viewer using up a whopping 184 calories.
Jaws took the runner-up spot, with viewers burning on average 161 calories, and The Exorcist came third, with 158 calories.
The University of Westminster study measured the total energy expenditure of ten different people as they watched a selection of frightening movies.
Scientists recorded their heart rate, oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output - and discovered the number of calories used increased by on average a third during the films.
The research also revealed films featuring moments designed to make viewers jump in terror are the best calorie-burners, as they cause heart rates to soar.
Dr Richard Mackenzie, senior lecturer and specialist in cell metabolism and physiology at the University of Westminster, said: "Each of the ten films tested set pulses racing, sparking an increase in the heart rate of the case studies.
"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."
Helen Cowley, editor of the movie rental company LOVEFiLM - which commissioned the University of Westminster study - said: "We all know the feeling of wanting to hide behind the sofa or grab a pillow when watching scary or hair raising scenes, but this research suggests that maybe those seeking to burn some calories should keep their eyes on the screen."
The top 10 calorie-burning frightening films were:
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. : 101 calories根據今天發佈的最新研究，觀看一部恐怖片讓人消耗的熱量相當於一根巧克力棒所含的熱量。
看完90分鐘恐怖片可以使人消耗多達113卡路里的熱量，接近於散步半小時，或者一根巧克力棒所含的熱量。
位居十大最能燃燒卡路里的恐怖片榜單之首的是1980年的心理驚悚片《閃靈》，平均每位觀看者會消耗多達184卡路里的熱量。
排在第二位的是《大白鯊》，觀看者平均消耗161卡路里熱量；排在第三的是《驅魔人》，平均消耗量爲158卡路里。
這項研究由威斯敏斯特大學開展，評估了10名受訪者在觀看所挑選出的恐怖電影時的總能量消耗。
科學家記錄了他們的心跳、攝氧量和二氧化碳排出量，發現在觀看恐怖片時，受訪者的卡路里消耗平均增加了三分之一。
研究還顯示，設計有極度驚恐場景的電影消耗的熱量最多，因爲這能讓觀看者的心跳迅速加快。
理查德-麥肯齊博士說：“調查選用的十部恐怖片都會使人血脈賁張，使被調查者心跳加速。”麥肯齊博士是威斯敏斯特大學細胞代謝與生理學的高級講師和專家。
“隨着心跳加快、全身血流加快，體內腎上腺素水平也隨之上升。”
“正是由於身體裏釋放出能迅速起效的腎上腺素，導致基礎新陳代謝率上升，最終使身體燃燒掉更多的卡路里。人體突然感受到強烈壓力（在該研究中是由於恐懼）暴發時會釋放腎上腺素，腎上腺素也會使人降低食慾。”
委託開展該調查的電影租賃公司“愛情影片”的編輯海倫-考利說：“我們都曾有過看恐怖片時想躲到沙發後面或者抱住枕頭的經歷，但這項研究告訴我們，想減肥的人們應該盯緊屏幕。”
十大最能燃燒卡路里的恐怖片：
1. 《閃靈》: 184卡路里
2. 《大白鯊》: 161卡路里
3. 《驅魔人》: 158卡路里
4. 《異形》: 152卡路里
5. 《電鋸驚魂》: 133卡路里
6. 《半夜鬼上牀》: 118卡路里
7. 《靈動：鬼影實錄》: 111卡路里
8. 《女巫布萊爾》: 105卡路里
9. 《德州電鋸殺人狂》: 107卡路里
10.《死亡錄像》: 101卡路里
