Action movies make you snack more. There’s a reason that a box of popcorn is empty by the end of the film. A group of researchers set out to see if watching an action movie, The Island, would affect the snacking habits of viewers. They had participants watch an action movie with or without sound or an interview. “While the people watching the interview show ate 104.3 g of food, those who watched the clip of The Island consumed a total of 206.5 g — nearly twice the amount. Watching The Island on mute did diminish appetites, but at 142.1 g the amount consumed was still 36% more than that of the interview group. The total calorie intake of both groups watching the action clip was also higher, at 354 calories with sound and 314 without, compared with just 215 calories for the third group.” This may also mean that having the TV on in the background, even if the sound isn’t on, could be increasing your eating. The researchers note that this occurs because you’re paying less attention to what you put in your mouth

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