The report was funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation but carried out by Professor Philip Leather of London's South Bank University and Professor Moira Munro of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

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Prof Sir Deian Hopkin, former vice-chancellor of London South Bank University, said the developments were worrying.

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The shoes were developed in collaboration with Darren James and Dr. David Cook, biomechanists at London's South Bank University, with an ergonomically optimized "Microwobbleboard" that FitFlop says encourages activation of the leg muscles.

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