Laugh and Lose Weight!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TripperFan · 06-04-2005, 04:47 PM

Looks like watching sitcoms is good for us folks!

A Good Laugh May Help Shed Extra Weight

By EMMA ROSS, AP Medical Writer
27 minutes ago

ATHENS, Greece - Dieters looking for another edge might want to consider exercising their sense of humor — scientists have found that a good laugh is a calorie burner not to be ignored.

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It may not be as good for reducing the waistline as going to the gym or resisting that ice-cream sundae, but American researchers have found that 10-15 minutes of genuine giggling can burn off the number of calories found in a medium square of chocolate.

The findings on the weight-loss possibilities of the uniquely human experience of laughter were presented at the close of the annual European Congress on Obesity on Saturday.

Researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, recruited 45 pairs of friends, shut them in a room decorated like a cheap hotel — scientifically known as a metabolic chamber — played them comedy clips on a TV screen and measured how many calories they burned when they laughed.

The researchers separately tested seven pairs of male friends, 17 pairs of female friends and 21 mixed couples.

"We didn't tell them that the goal of the study was to measure laughter, because then they might have forced it and forced laughter is regulated by a totally different part of the brain. We wanted it to be genuine laughter," said the lead researcher, Maciej Buchowski, director of bionutrition at Vanderbilt.

The volunteers were told the researchers were testing emotional reactions to various video clips.

The room was specially designed so the scientists could measure how much oxygen the volunteers inhaled and how much carbon dioxide they exhaled — the gold standard for measuring energy burning.

Noting differences in the oxygen and carbon dioxide patterns before and during laughter allowed the scientists to calculate whether laughter used more energy and how big the difference was.

Heart rate monitors were also fitted on the volunteers as a back-up measure of changes, as heart rate tends to respond to changes more quickly than breathing does. Microphones were fitted to record the laughter.

The volunteers were told not to talk or move and to just kick back in the reclining chairs and watch what was on the screen.

"First it was half an hour of something boring — an English landscape," Buchowski said. "During that time we measured the baseline, the resting metabolic rate."

Five different comedy clips, starting with a take-out from the Cosby show — minus the canned laughter _were then shown for 10 minutes each, interspersed with five minute intervals of sheep wandering around fields in England.

The heart rate, laughter and breathing information was then lined up in the special laughter lab and the tapes were analyzed second-by-second.

"They burned 20 percent more calories when laughing, compared to not laughing," Buchowski said.

"Then we calculated what would happen if somebody laughed for 10 or 15 minutes a day and we found that it was up to 50 calories, depending on your body size and the intensity of the laughter."

That means that if you laugh for 10-15 minutes a day, you'd burn enough calories to lose two kilograms (4.4 pounds) in a year, Buchowski said.

Physiology experts say it's not exactly an effective way to shed extra weight — but the idea is worth a laugh or two.

Superstar · 06-04-2005, 04:50 PM

If thats true then I should way about 10 pounds. I spend most of the day laughing

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 06-04-2005, 04:51 PM

Laughter is the best medicine.

Warm & Fuzzy · 06-04-2005, 04:56 PM

I heard every time you laugh, you burn 3 calories.

TripperFan · 06-04-2005, 04:58 PM

Where's TJL? He can be SO's "Official Weightloss Trainer"!!

I know it also eases depression (course, try mustering a chuckle when you're feeling blue)!

Mr. Television · 06-04-2005, 05:02 PM

Yea laughing can be great. I know when I'm depressed thats when I usually gain weight.

Rhiannon · 06-04-2005, 06:39 PM

this is good.

Janice · 06-04-2005, 07:38 PM

Brent must be really thin.

barwars · 06-04-2005, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Brent must be really thin.

or at least the fingers he types with.

G-Force Glockstar · 06-04-2005, 08:15 PM

That's good cause I laugh alot

Warm & Fuzzy · 06-04-2005, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripperFan

Where's TJL? He can be SO's "Official Weightloss Trainer"!!

I know it also eases depression (course, try mustering a chuckle when you're feeling blue)!

How much do you think he's gona charge us?

Number 9 Dream · 06-04-2005, 10:33 PM

I laugh a lot.....this is good. Now if I can only my ass off this computer

MsOrange · 06-04-2005, 11:28 PM

well in that case....

*runs to closet to see if pants are looser*

TripperFan · 06-04-2005, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quencherita

How much do you think he's gona charge us?

Free beer coupons for his local haunt?

G-Force Glockstar · 06-08-2005, 09:04 PM

06-04-2005, 04:47 PM	#1
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	Laugh and Lose Weight!! Looks like watching sitcoms is good for us folks! A Good Laugh May Help Shed Extra Weight By EMMA ROSS, AP Medical Writer 27 minutes ago ATHENS, Greece - Dieters looking for another edge might want to consider exercising their sense of humor — scientists have found that a good laugh is a calorie burner not to be ignored. ADVERTISEMENT It may not be as good for reducing the waistline as going to the gym or resisting that ice-cream sundae, but American researchers have found that 10-15 minutes of genuine giggling can burn off the number of calories found in a medium square of chocolate. The findings on the weight-loss possibilities of the uniquely human experience of laughter were presented at the close of the annual European Congress on Obesity on Saturday. Researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, recruited 45 pairs of friends, shut them in a room decorated like a cheap hotel — scientifically known as a metabolic chamber — played them comedy clips on a TV screen and measured how many calories they burned when they laughed. The researchers separately tested seven pairs of male friends, 17 pairs of female friends and 21 mixed couples. "We didn't tell them that the goal of the study was to measure laughter, because then they might have forced it and forced laughter is regulated by a totally different part of the brain. We wanted it to be genuine laughter," said the lead researcher, Maciej Buchowski, director of bionutrition at Vanderbilt. The volunteers were told the researchers were testing emotional reactions to various video clips. The room was specially designed so the scientists could measure how much oxygen the volunteers inhaled and how much carbon dioxide they exhaled — the gold standard for measuring energy burning. Noting differences in the oxygen and carbon dioxide patterns before and during laughter allowed the scientists to calculate whether laughter used more energy and how big the difference was. Heart rate monitors were also fitted on the volunteers as a back-up measure of changes, as heart rate tends to respond to changes more quickly than breathing does. Microphones were fitted to record the laughter. The volunteers were told not to talk or move and to just kick back in the reclining chairs and watch what was on the screen. "First it was half an hour of something boring — an English landscape," Buchowski said. "During that time we measured the baseline, the resting metabolic rate." Five different comedy clips, starting with a take-out from the Cosby show — minus the canned laughter _were then shown for 10 minutes each, interspersed with five minute intervals of sheep wandering around fields in England. The heart rate, laughter and breathing information was then lined up in the special laughter lab and the tapes were analyzed second-by-second. "They burned 20 percent more calories when laughing, compared to not laughing," Buchowski said. "Then we calculated what would happen if somebody laughed for 10 or 15 minutes a day and we found that it was up to 50 calories, depending on your body size and the intensity of the laughter." That means that if you laugh for 10-15 minutes a day, you'd burn enough calories to lose two kilograms (4.4 pounds) in a year, Buchowski said. Physiology experts say it's not exactly an effective way to shed extra weight — but the idea is worth a laugh or two.
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

06-04-2005, 04:51 PM	#3
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	Laughter is the best medicine.
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

06-04-2005, 04:56 PM	#4
Warm & Fuzzy Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 02, 2001 Posts: 10,254	I heard every time you laugh, you burn 3 calories.
	__________________ "To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world." ~Unknown

06-04-2005, 05:02 PM	#6
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Yea laughing can be great. I know when I'm depressed thats when I usually gain weight.
	__________________ Sonny

06-04-2005, 06:39 PM	#7
Rhiannon oh, snap! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 11,097	this is good.
	__________________ Nothing better the feeling is so fine Simply put I saw your love stream flow

06-04-2005, 04:50 PM	#2
Superstar Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 08, 2003 Posts: 63,316	If thats true then I should way about 10 pounds. I spend most of the day laughing

06-04-2005, 04:58 PM	#5
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	Where's TJL? He can be SO's "Official Weightloss Trainer"!! I know it also eases depression (course, try mustering a chuckle when you're feeling blue)!

06-04-2005, 07:38 PM	#8
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Brent must be really thin.

06-04-2005, 08:15 PM	#10
G-Force Glockstar Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Nov 22, 2003 Posts: 21,770	That's good cause I laugh alot
	__________________ Formally, FullHouseFan8795, CamdenGirl89, Lana Lang, Ruthie Lang, CravinForCarrie, and Girl Meets World.

06-04-2005, 10:33 PM	#12
Number 9 Dream That '70s Girl Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5,875	I laugh a lot.....this is good. Now if I can only my ass off this computer
	__________________ Live a little be a gypsy get around http://www.librarything.com/profile/skelterhelter http://retrogirl82.dvdaf.com/owned formerly Retrogirl82

06-04-2005, 11:28 PM	#13
MsOrange Bringin' Sexy Back Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 6,133	well in that case.... runs to closet to see if pants are looser

06-08-2005, 09:04 PM	#15
G-Force Glockstar Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Nov 22, 2003 Posts: 21,770