Researchers at Vanderbilt University in the United States placed 90 volunteers in a specially designed room that could detect the amount of oxygen people consumed and the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by breathing. This is the best way to measure the body’s energy consumption.
The researchers asked the volunteers not to talk or walk around, but to sit in a chair and watch TV.
Vanderbilt University researcher Maciej Bouchusky said: “Initially, the volunteers were given some very boring scenery films to watch. During this time, we measured their metabolic rate in the resting state.”
After that, the researchers showed them five comedy clips, each lasting about 10 minutes. The comedies made the volunteers laugh out loud.
At the same time, they were tested for heart rate and respiratory status, and compared with the data in the resting state. The results found that they consumed 20% more calories in the laughing state than in the serious state.
The researchers calculated that if you smile happily for 10 minutes to 15 minutes a day, you can burn 50 kcal. This means that you can lose 2 kg per year.
