Researchers Study the Exercise Pill

Exercise Pill, Weight Loss, and Obesity

Can we skip our workout and just take a pill? The exercise pill may be the answer that all couch potatoes have been looking for.

For those that struggle with the daily routine of getting off of the couch to exercise, a recent drug, which many call the “exercise pill”, may sound like a miracle. A recent study conducted by renowned scientist, Ronald Evans, showed that stationary mice that took the drug for a month actually burned more calories and had smaller fat percentages than did untreated mice. And when the very same mice were tested on a treadmill, they could run nearly forty percent further and twenty percent longer than the untreated mice.

They also confirm that in mice that did exercise preparation, another complimentary drug made their workout much more successful at boosting stamina. And after four weeks of drug administration and exercising, the mice could run sixty percent longer and seventy percent further distances than another mouse population that had performed the same exercise but without the drug.

Various Uses of The Exercise Drugs

The two drugs have been examined by researchers for varied uses. The no-exercise drug is in progressive human testing to determine if it can ward off a complexity of heart bypass surgery. The first drug, known as GW1516 and the second drug, the no-exercise medication is called AICAR

Exactly how the effects could result in successful reactions in humans is another question, however. Hopefully someday, researchers note, this type of drug could possibly help to treat obese people, people who suffer from diabetes and others with certain medical conditions, which obstruct their ability to exercise.

The study lends support to the theory that the medication which was developed for the management of metabolic diseases, when administered in combination with exercise, offers the ability to run even faster and farther than exercise alone can. Plus, another chemical administered led to stronger endurance in the mice, even within the group of mice who did not exercise.

Ronald Evens, who conducted the study and who is with the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California stated that the medicine "tricks" the muscles into considering that exercise has been conducted daily. Unfortunately, the pair of compounds is both extremely attractive targets for abuse by competitive athletes. However, people with health issues, which prevent them from keeping up with a consistent exercise regimen, could be benefited.

The publication by Evans and his associates was released in the July 31 online issue of the research journal Cell.

The research focused on two drugs that provoke genetic changes in the physical body, which are replicated by exercise and can eventually accompany improved muscle function and calorie burning abilities.

In the mice studies, the drugs appear to result in positive results.

Exercise Still the Best Way to Build Endurance

Nevertheless, it takes more than just changed muscles to turn a stationary mouse into a long-distance runner. Whether the same results would be present in humans is unknown at this time.

Preceding experiments propose that it might screen for weight gain while on a high-fat diet, which is why researchers theorize that the exercise drug could possibly be an effective means of treating obesity. However the drug would need to be administered for an extended period of time in order to be effective, so that the safety for people could be fully tested.

Test Results of Exercise Pill Still in the Preliminary Stages

Not so fast! Those who cannot follow an exercise regimen due to medical issues such as joint soreness or heart failure could indeed benefit from this drug.

Renowned research scientist from the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Eric Hoffman, noted that the AICAR drug simulates aerobic exercise only and not strength training that could be more beneficial to those that are bedridden or the elderly. Hoffman cautioned that the new test results that were conducted on mice have not yet been replicated in people.

Laurie Goodyear from the Joslin Diabetes Center, which is located in Boston, noted that AICAR may demonstrate useful effects, and someday might even be beneficial in treating diabetes. Several drug companies are pushing for research on such drugs for treating diabetic patients. And one reason for this is that in animals, AICAR can stimulate muscles to deduct sugar from the blood, but this theory is in the exploratory stages.

Goodyear commented on the fact that exercise has such extensive benefits in the body that she is unsure that any pill could ever be capable of supplying all of the benefits achieved from exercise.

Consult a Professional

If you have any questions about skipping your exercise routine in hopes that the exercise-pill will soon be available on the market, it is recommended that you consult a professional health care physician before making any drastic changes to your exercise regimen.