Never mind Paul Ryan's policies, check out those pecs

Interest in Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney's vice-presidential running mate, is understandably at an all-time high. But it appears that Americans aren't particularly intrigued by his policies – instead, they want his abs. After "Paul Ryan budget", the top search term on Google for articles about the Republican candidate is "Paul Ryan shirtless". The 42-year-old used the P90X video workout – which apparently takes 90 days of exercise and good nutrition to turn you from a Mr Creosote to a preening Adonis – to craft his enviable physique. Its year-on-year sales have doubled in the past week.

Across the pond, politicians have a thing for regimented fitness programmes. Condoleezza Rice would rise at 4.30am for a punishing workout. Sarah Palin, meanwhile, relies on a diet of caribou steak and pounding through the Alaskan wilds on a snowmobile – "It's the best upper body workout you could ever have," she said.

David Cameron must wish that British politics was so waistline-conscious. It might stop Boris Johnson in his tracks.