Laughter Burns Calories
News from WLR Dietitian Juliette Kellow on a new study which
shows that laughing can aid weight loss, by increasing the
heart rate and calorie expenditure.
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Laugh Yourself Slim
By WLR Dietitian
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Being overweight can make you feel miserable, but if you want
to lose those excess pounds, you’re better off trying to have a
good laugh.
New research published in the International Journal of Obesity
has discovered that laughter really is the best medicine for a
weight problem.
The small study included 45 pairs of adult friends, who were
shown either funny or serious film clips in a room that was set up
with equipment to measure the amount of calories burnt and to
monitor the rate, duration and type of laughter. The participants
also wore heart monitors to measure their heart rate.
The researchers discovered that laughing increased both heart
rate and calorie expenditure by up to 20 per cent – and the longer
participants laughed for the greater the effects.
Using the
results, the scientists then went on to calculate that just 15
minutes of laughter a day will burn 10 to 40 calories, depending
on a person’s weight and the intensity of the laughter. That’s
enough to shift between 1 and 4lb a year.
WLR says:
The idea that laughter benefits health has been around for many
years, possibly because it reduces muscle tension, increases the
amount of oxygen in the blood, exercises the heart and produces
happy chemicals in the brain called endorphins. It certainly makes
sense that laughing would burn more calories too, as a result of
the extra movement and increase in heart rate linked with
laughing.
You don’t burn heaps of extra calories but as any slimmer
knows, it’s little changes that make big differences. Plus, having
a laugh usually makes most of us feel more positive about life –
and ultimately, this can help us feel better about ourselves and
make us more motivated to lose those excess pounds. If nothing
else, adding laughing to your list of weight loss tips gives you
the perfect excuse for watching your favourite comedy or having a
few more night’s out with friends! |
