London, Dec 19 (ANI): Here’s some good news for shopaholics - festive shopping can give you bags of exercise.

According to a leading retailer, the seasonal ‘running’ stuff offers a workout as intensive as a visit to the gym, reports The Daily Express.

Chris Husbands, fitness adviser at high street chain John Lewis, which commissioned the research, said: “Over Christmas you’ll eat three times as much as usual, so it’s important to make use of any exercise opportunity in the run-up to the big day.

“On average, you burn 200 to 300 calories an hour when walking, which increases to 300 to 350 calories when combined with walking up and down steps.

“If you’re exercising for more than 45 minutes calorie burn increases, so planning a minimum of an hour shopping trip is a good idea.”

As per this rate, an hour and a half of walking around department stores and shopping centres will burn off your turkey or a glass of wine, while two hours of Christmas Eve panic buying will burn off the number of calories found in a portion of Christmas pudding. (ANI)