Horror diet: Shed pounds with scary flicks

'The Shining' is one horror flick that can scare you into burning calories. (YouTube)
"[REC]": 101 calories (YouTube)
"The Texas Chain Saw Massacre": 107 calories(YouTube)
"The Blair Witch Project": 105 calories(YouTube)
"Paranormal Activity": 111 calories(YouTube)
"A Nightmare on Elm Street": 118 calories (YouTube)
"Saw": 133 calories (YouTube)
"Alien": 152 calories (YouTube)
"The Exorcist": 158 calories (YouTube)
"Jaws": 161 calories (YouTube)
"The Shining": 184 calories (YouTube)
(1/11)

Jason Fraley, WTOP film critic

WASHINGTON – Forget Jenny Craig. “Here’s Johnny!”

A new study by the University of Westminster finds that watching 90 minutes of cinematic horror can burn up to 113 calories, The Telegraph reports.

That’s about the same as a 30-minute walk or burning off the equivalent of a chocolate bar.

Researchers measured the heart rate, oxygen intake and carbon dioxide output of 10 people as they watched various horror flicks.

They found that adrenaline surges lowered appetite, increased metabolism and burned a higher number of calories.

Who knew that a glass of “red rum” could help you lose weight?

I have just one question: where are the fava beans and “nice Chianti”?

Happy Halloween.

Read more from WTOP Film Critic Jason Fraley by clicking “Fraley on Film” under the “Living” tab above, following @JasonFraleyWTOP on Twitter, and checking out his blog, The Film Spectrum.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Jason Fraley

Hailed by The Washington Post for “his savantlike ability to name every Best Picture winner in history," Jason Fraley began at WTOP as Morning Drive Writer in 2008, film critic in 2011 and Entertainment Editor in 2014, providing daily arts coverage on-air and online.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up