Science says: going to the cinema is equivalent to a workout

Of course, you can really go all out at the gym, but you can also just catch a movie. Research has shown that going to the cinema counts as a workout in the gym (yes really, just like one glass of red wine equals an hour of sweating in that same gym). How exactly does that work? Yes, I wanted to know that too. So you understand: I researched it in detail for us.

What the story is: University College London conducted research together with Vue Cinemas among cinema-goers who went to see the movie Aladdin (which probably is getting a sequel !). They were plastered with sensors after which not long after the following conclusion was drawn: going to the cinema equals a light workout. The heart rate of these cinema-goers was measured, and it increased significantly for everyone (I guess partly thanks to villain Jafar, grr). And although it doesn't equal a high-intensity class, it does equal taking a brisk walk on the treadmill. You actually move more than you think while watching a movie because you might get startled or have to laugh really hard. Your heart rate also goes up because your brain has to focus on one thing for quite a while. I say: this year no gym subscription but a cinema one, where are my fitgirls at?

Source: Beautify