Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Health
Gemma Jones

Monty Python's 'Mr Teabag' silly walk could help you lose weight quickly

As New Year approaches many people have set their resolution as losing weight and are finding new ways to do so.

One surprising way to burn calories quickly is inspired by Monty Python's 'Mr Teabag', played by John Cleese. Experts have found that the silly walking style made famous by the comedy troupe is actually vigorous exercise.

For anyone unfamiliar with the Python team's Ministry of Silly Walks sketch, it’s described by The Times as “a satire on bureaucratic inefficiency” and features Cleese as civil servant Mr Teabag. We see Teabag walking to work in an extremely absurd fashion before conducting a meeting with Mr Pewtey (Michael Palin), who is requesting a government grant to develop his own silly walk.

READ MORE: Experts urge people not to put Amazon Echo in bedrooms

This walking style involves high kicks, backwards hops and other erratic leg jerks, and scientists have found it uses up two and a half times more energy than walking normally - meaning it will quickly help to burn excess fat.

Researchers from Arizona State University published their findings from a study on the walk in the British Medical Journal. They estimated that adults could achieve the recommended 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 normal steps with Teabag-style steps for about 12 to 19 minutes per day would increase daily energy expenditure by approximately 100 calories. They added that this amount of walking in Teabag style would likely increase cardiorespiratory fitness, reduce mortality risk, and would require no extra time commitment because it replaces movement adults already do with higher energy physical activity.

However, "minutes spent laughing or number of smiles" were not included in the study despite it noting: "Bursts of laughter from the participants were frequently noted by the supervising investigator, almost always when participants were engaging in the Teabag walk."

Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here

For more celeb news, videos and pictures follow our designated Facebook page HERE

READ NEXT:

Jamie Redknapp fans divided after star's latest picture

Diabetes: Symptoms and warning signs on your skin that suggest high blood sugar

Gogglebox's Ellie Warner supported as she shares Christmas update with boyfriend Nat

Ant McPartlin's seven-figure home in cosy part of England

Kate Middleton's Christmas present from Prince William sells out in minutes

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.