Violent films could make you FAT: Stress makes your body crave crisps and ...

Watching scary films can make a person reach for fattier foods and gain weight, research has found.

A horror film with violence was proven to increase stress, nerves and exhaustion in study participants. 

But viewers of a romantic comedy or narrative film did not show the same emotional response - and did not reach for as many tasty snacks such as crisps and chocolate.

Viewers may comfort eat more as a way of dampening the stress triggered by the film, scientists said.

It's the first study to look into the effect of a film on our food choices and appetite, after previous studies have linked violent video games to an increase in appetite.

The findings suggest it's not just sedentary screen viewing that leads to weight gain, but what is shown on the screen, too. 

Watching scary films can make a person reach for fattier foods to comfort their nerves and therefore gain weight, a study by Lebanese researchers has found

Watching scary films can make a person reach for fattier foods to comfort their nerves and therefore gain weight, a study by Lebanese researchers has found

The study, conducted by Lebanese American University, involved 84 participants aged between 20 and 30 who were randomly assigned to either watch a violent movie or a romantic comedy. 

Before the study, various measurements were taken including their heart rate, blood pressure and grip strength, and their stress perception and appetite were assessed.  

Movie watchers were provided with a tray containing snacks that were decided by the researchers as being fatty, salty or sugary, including popcorn, crisps, biscuits, chocolate, sweets, apples, orange juice and Pepsi. 

The participants were told they could eat whatever they wanted, and were left alone and unobserved during the film to get comfortable. 

DOES TIME IN FRONT OF THE TV RAISE HEALTH RISKS? 

Sedentary behaviour and lack of exercise is associated with poor health outcomes. Some recent studies have found that:

Sitting in front of the TV for as little as one hour a day can increase your risk of bowel cancer: A study led by Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that those who lazed in front of the TV for two hours a day or more had nearly a 70 per cent increased risk. Children with a TV in their room are more likely to be obese: Portuguese scientists analysed the lifestyles and habits of 120 girls aged between four and six by quizzing their parents. They found girls with TVs in their bedrooms were three times more likely to be overweight than their peers without the luxury. And the risk of obesity was four times higher, according to the study. Watching TV is more of a risk factor for obesity than any other sedentary activity: Watching TV puts children at the greatest risk of obesity in comparison to other downtime activities, a study by the University of South

read more from dailymail.....

NEXT Health service initiative offers patients a chance to see a GP on the same day ... trends now