Monty Python ‘Ministry of Silly Walks’ could make you fitter

By Mark Waghorn via SWNS

Walking like John Cleese in the famous Monty Python Ministry of Silly Walks sketch could make you fitter, scientists have revealed.

Following in the footsteps of his Mr. Teabag character for a few minutes a day boosts energy expenditure two and half times - helping adults meet exercise targets.

The Monty Python-inspired study shows making physical activity less efficient improves health. John Cleese found it harder to perform the walk in later years.

It involved little jumps and then three long paces without moving the top of his body.
He would say, when told about a new Python Tour: "I'm not doing silly walks."

Now doctors have found it really is more strenuous. Global rates of physical inactivity - defined as less than 150 minutes a week - have not budged in the past 20 years.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease has doubled since 1990 - with obesity rates tripling in Europe and the US.

Corresponding author Dr. Glenn Gaesser, of Arizona State University, said: "To counter this problem, we propose PEMPA - the practice of effort maximization in physical activity.

"We take our lead from the so far unrecognized scientific genius of Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks.

"Mr. Teabag considers a proposal to fund the promotion of Mr. Putey's inefficient walking technique alongside other inefficient styles of walking.

"Had the health profession taken MoSW to heart in the 1970s, hearts everywhere might be healthier."

Mr. Teabag, a bowler-hatted city gent, walks out of a tobacconist's, after buying The Times.

He straightens his tie and then walks along the road in a very silly manner, passing by a long line of gasmen.

He then walks along a busy street in the same way into a building - named 'The Ministry of Silly Walks'.

In his office is Arthur Putey, played by Michael Palin, who tells him he has a silly walk - lifting the bottom part of his left leg sharply at every alternate pace.

Teabag doesn't find it particularly silly but Putey believes that with government backing, he could make it very silly.

Teabag later asks Mrs. Two-Lumps, played by Daphne Davey if they can have two coffees. She also has a very silly walk, spilling all the coffee.

In the study, 13 healthy adults - six women and seven men - were asked to perform three walking trials - in their own style and those of Mr. Teabag and Mr. Putey around an indoor 30-meter (98 feet) course. 

Participants were aged 22 to 71. The researchers found the Teabag walk resulted in significantly greater energy expenditure - about 2.5 times that of usual walking.

Oxygen uptake doubled to 8 METs - the amount of calories expended per minute of physical activity.

Exchanging just one minute of usual walking style with one minute of Teabag walking was associated with an increase in energy expenditure of 8 kcal/min for men and 5 kcal/min for women.

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 a day.

And substituting usual style steps with Teabag style steps for about 12-19 min/day would increase daily energy expenditure by approximately 100 kcal. 

This amount of walking in Teabag style would likely increase cardiorespiratory fitness, reduce mortality risk, and would require no extra time commitment.

Writing in The BMJ, Dr. Gaesser said it replaces movement adults already do with higher energy physical activity.

Some people, including those with disabilities, gait disorders, joint disease, or other health conditions might not be able to perform the Putey or Teabag walks.

Dr. Gaesser said: “But they might be able to otherwise increase energy expenditure in their daily movements, with inefficiency as the goal."

Bursts of physical activity as short as one to two minutes, accumulated over time, can produce cardiovascular benefits.

So people could engage in regular bursts of inefficient walking, at times and places that are most convenient for them, including indoors. 

Dr. Gaesser said: "Our analysis of the energy consumed during different styles of walking seeks to empower people to move their own bodies in more energetic - and hopefully joyful - ways.

"Efforts to boost cardiovascular fitness should embrace inclusivity and inefficiency for all.”