Carrying a baby for nine months will take a toll on your body – but did you know pregnancy actually burns calories? New research has revealed just how much energy mammals use when they reproduce. Believe it or not, human pregnancy demands a whopping 49,753 dietary calories, according to the Monash University biologists. That's the equivalent of a staggering 104 McDonald's Happy Meals or 218 standard Mars bars – quite the banquet for any fast food lover.
"Most of (the) energy that mammals put into reproduction is 'boiled off' as metabolic heat, only 10% ends up in the actual baby," Dr Dustin Marshall, a co-author of the Science publication, told CNN . "When both lactation and metabolic loads are accounted for, the baby itself represents less than 1/20th of the total reproductive investment." Experts reveal whether sex can replace workout after fierce debate erupts online To come to this conclusion, the Melbourne-based team analysed 81 species – ranging from microscopic planktons to humans - modelling what exactly goes on when they are expecting.
Although most animals see 10% of their mega energy use transferred to offspring, humans see even less at just 4%. Instead, an unbelievable 96% of energy is invested in the intensive processes of 'gestation' – referring to the development that takes place all the way from conception to actually giving birth. "The results were surprising," lead author Dr Samuel Ginther said of the study.
"We found that for many animals, the energ.
