A new study from Loughborough University found that simply watching sports events on television can help you burn fat and lose weight. According to the study, viewers can burn up to 540 calories over a 90-minute period. To put this in perspective, this is equivalent to running for 45 minutes. In collaboration with Dr. Dale Eslinger, a sports scientist at Loughborough University, the team developed a formula called the "Celebration Power." This formula allows for the calculation of energy expenditure while watching sports on television, taking into account five key factors: body weight, how the sports events are watched, baseline time, intensity of celebration, and celebration time.
Based on this formula, a football fan weighing 80 kg (176 lbs) watches a 90-minute match while sitting and interacts vigorously by jumping, punching the air, or yelling for three-quarters of the match, can burn up to 540 calories. This can be equivalent to running for 45 minutes. Similarly, a tennis fan of the same weight watching a three-hour match while sitting and chatting, and celebrating moderately by clapping and cheering, can burn up to 432 calories, which is equivalent to swimming for 60 minutes.
Meanwhile, an athletics fan weighing the same who watches a 60-minute event while sitting and interacts moderately by jumping on their feet and walking for a quarter of the time can burn up to 162 calories, equivalent to walking for 30 minutes. Lastly, a shooting fan of the same weight watching a 60-minute match while sitting and interacting physically by clapping and nail-biting for a quarter of the time can burn up to 106 calories, which may equal a 15-minute cycling session.
Dr. Eslinger stated, “Watching sports is positively associated with well-being and vitality. By combining how we watch sports and the intensity of our celebrations, and considering factors including body weight and total duration, the innovative Celebration Power formula allows sports fans to measure their energy expenditure while enjoying the thrill of the games.”
This research comes shortly after a study found that playing video games could help you lose weight. Research conducted by Stakester revealed that male gamers can burn a massive 420 calories during a two-hour gaming session, while female gamers can burn up to 472 calories, equivalent to doing 1,000 sit-ups.
