Are There Health Benefits of Laughter
Related to Obesity?
Increased calories burned plus reduced levels of stress equals lots of obesity-related health benefits of laughter. When you do the research, it is clear that humour really is more than simply a laughing matter, with the health benefits of laughter many, including:
So how does laughter relate to adult or childhood obesity? In a couple of ways. First, laughter burns calories. If you and your child spend more time each day enjoying a new joke or a funny You Tube clip you will burn more calories. That can translate, over time, into shedding extra pounds. More importantly, however, if according to a 10 year old, anything can be more important than a funny You Tube clip, laughter helps reduce stress levels.
One of the primary ways stress effects health is by impacting our cortisol production. Normally your child's levels of this "flight or fight" hormone are highest upon waking and help give a natural boost of energy to start his day. Throughout the day, cortisol levels naturally begin to drop and then level at different points. At bedtime, levels should be at their lowest to allow for a restful, deep sleep, during which time cortisol levels again rise to their peak level before waking.
Because stress interferes with this regular cortisol pattern, many adults and children have too much or erratic levels of cortisol and are therefore, susceptible to the conditions that high levels of this hormone produce. How does stress effect health then? In a nutshell, by contributing to:
Because laughter, play and relaxation help us keep to a regular pattern of cortisol production, it is easy to see that the health benefits of laughter are of real help to a child carrying excess weight. I so believe in the health benefits of laughter that a core component of my Kids in Balance weight loss program is Laughter and Play. Ensuring there is time each day to relax and have fun together as a family goes a long way toward your child reaching a healthy balanced weight.
Need more suggestions as to how to incorporate the health benefits of laughter into your household? Order my Overweight Kids in a Toothpick World book for a full explanation of the simple-to-follow, proven-to-work Kids in Balance program. Listening to your child's favorite Knock Knock joke one more time really does make sense!
You are also welcome to download the free handout, 10 Things You Can Do Right Now to Get Your Kids in Balance.
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