Skinny Cow

15th January, 2010

WALK IT OFF

The average woman burns off 48,000 calories a year - trudging round the shops, it was revealed yesterday (Thurs).

Experts found women make up to 132 shopping trips every 12 months - spending a total of 159 hours and 56 minutes walking at a fast pace.

And it emerged during that time they burn off approximately five calories-a-minute - a total of 47,700 calories over a 12 month period.

That's the equivilant of 25 days worth of women's recommended intake of 1,940 calories a day.

The poll of 3,000 women was conducted by Skinny Cow low fat iced desserts.

A spokeswoman for Skinny Cow said: ''With the festive celebrations well and truly over, women across the country are now looking for the perfect fitness regime for the New Year.

''We all know that women love to shop, so what better way to get into shape than to exercise at the January sales.

''We're all looking for more fun ways to get fit - so it's great news that a trip to the shops can help.

''With women infrequently setting out to do exercise, a lengthy shopping trip could be the answer to getting into shape.

''If women planned to spend two hours at the shops, rather than the average one, they could double their calories burned each month to a staggering 8,000 - just through shopping.''

The study found women make 11 trips per month to the shops.

Two involve jaunts to the high street to buy clothes, five trips are to get the weekly food shop and four are to the local supermarket or corner shop.

That means women spend over 13 hours a month hurrying round the supermarket or swiftly hot-footing it around clothes shops and boutiques.

In the process they burn off at least 4,000 calories - just over twice their recommended daily intake.

Two thirds of women polled say they rarely amble sedately around the shops, preferring to walk briskly to get everything done as quickly as possible.

Close to seven out of ten admitted feeling completely exhausted after a shopping trip.

Six out of ten described shopping as a great form of exercise.

The research also showed girls exercise just four times a month, either going to the gym, swimming or playing team sports.

And on each occasion the burst of energy lasts for just 52 minutes - which means girls are only trying to exercise for three and a half hours a month.

Tellingly, 52 per cent of women say they feel more tired after a shopping trip than after a visit to the gym.

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