Though I know, deep in my heart, that it should be viewed with the same healthy dose of skepticism as any pseudo scientific research that comes out in favor of those who funded it, I can’t help but hope that there is something to the results of a recent study commissioned by British department store chain, Debenhams.

The unnamed boffins behind the research have concluded that the average woman walks 154 miles every year while she hunts for bargains, and manages to burn 48,000 calories whilst doing so. Buying is better than window shopping (we’re talking physically, not its effects on your bank account) as the study also concludes that carrying heavy bags can be as effective as hiking or weight lifting.

And lest you think that we’re just talking cardio here Debenhams spokeswoman, Ruth Attridge, lets us know that “As well as walking, there are stretching benefits gained while reaching for that must-have pair of shoes”.

Of course, this is no help whatsoever to those of us who have moved from the world of brick and mortar shopping to that of the virtual world...unless the Wii has a shopping game that I'm unaware of...