Christmas calories: How much running to burn off a mince pie?

Lots of us will eat about 6,000 calories on Christmas Day, with scientists warning that any pounds we gain over the festive season could still be weighing us down next December.

With that in mind, academics from Birmingham and Loughborough universities have calculated how much physical activity would be required to burn off various festive favourites.

Flip the images below to find out how far you'd have to run to burn off the most popular Christmas treats.

Running off a mince pie containing 245 calories would take 21 minutes, while to walk it off would take 40 minutes, according to their calculations.

Five pigs in blankets, containing 70 calories, would take six minutes to run off, while a small glass of sparkling wine, with 105 calories, could be zapped by a 17 minute walk.

The researchers also advised a group of volunteers on how to avoid piling on the pounds at Christmas.

Half were asked to weigh themselves at least twice a week and to record their weight. They were also told how much physical activity was required to burn off various festive foods and drinks.

The other half were given only a brief leaflet on leading a healthy lifestyle.

The study, published this week in the British Medical Journal, was carried out last Christmas and the one before.

On average, those in the first group did not gain weight over the festive season, but those in the second group did.

Professor Amanda Daley, from Loughborough University, said: "On average, people gain a small amount of weight of up to 1kg each year and holidays such as Christmas are responsible for most of this annual weight gain.

"Weight gained during holiday periods often is not subsequently lost and, although these gains are small, over 10 years they would lead to a significant increase in body weight."