A group of researchers at Arizona State University are trying to figure out how effective Monty Python's "silly walk" can be for people who want to burn calories after the holidays.
The results of the research, which was inspired by Monty Python, have been published in the British Medical Journal.
The Ministry of Silly Walks sketch is described as a satire on bureaucratic inefficiency by The Times. Teabag walks to work in an absurd fashion before a meeting with Mr. Putey, who is requesting a government grant to develop his own walk. Putey's request was turned down because his walk is too sensible.
13 healthy adults with an average age of 34 years were recruited to take part in the study. Each person was told to walk around a 30 meter course for five minutes.
The first walk was in their usual style, followed by the second walk in the style of Putey and the third walk in the style of Teabag.
The team didn't record minutes spent laughing or number of smiles as secondary outcomes while walking inefficiently.
The results showed the following.
— Inefficient walking (Teabag style) increases energy expenditure in adults by about 2.5 fold compared with their usual walking style. — Adults could achieve 75 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity per week by walking in Teabag style, rather than their usual style, for about 11 minutes per day.
— Substituting usual style steps with Teabag style steps for about 12-19 minutes per day would increase daily energy expenditure by approximately 100 kilocalories.
The Ministry of Silly Walks skit may have inadvertently touched on a powerful way to enhance cardiovascular fitness in adults. Increasing the inefficiency of physical activity and movement that we already perform might complement other public health efforts to promote regular physical activity.
Next time you are on your daily commute or walking through the mall, consider a spot of very silly walking to give you a boost. Be ready for some looks.
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