And now for something completely different.
According to a newly-published study in the British Medical Journal, ‘Teabag’ style walking burns 2.5 x more energy than normal walking. Teabag style is named after the character actor/comedian John Cleese plays in the classic Monty Python “Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch.
According to the study:
Researchers used data from 13 healthy adults and had them walk in their usual style, as well as recreate the “silly walks” of Mr. Teabag and Mr Putey, as depicted in a Monty Python sketch, for three five-minute trials on an indoor course.
They found that the Teabag walk resulted in a significantly higher energy expenditure of approximately 2.5 times that of usual walking. This level of energy expenditure would qualify as vigorous intensity exercise.
While the study is based on a small sample and some individuals may not be able to perform the silly walks, the researchers suggest that bursts of inefficient walking, for as little as one to two minutes, can still provide cardiovascular benefits.
Here’s the original sketch from Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
[YouTube: Modern Healthspan] [YouTube: Park Exclusive] [diabetes.co.uk]
