Drug that replicates the effects of exercise could soon come our way

Jul 18, 2013 19:21 GMT  ·  By

Those thinking about buying a treadmill or getting a gym membership might want to drop these plans and instead patiently wait for scientists to finish work on a so-called exercise pill.

Specialists say that, according to their most recent investigations, the idea of creating a pill that replicates the effects of exercise might not be as far-fetched as some believe.

Writing in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers detail how, by toying with the blood levels of a protein dubbed REV-ERB, they managed to get several obese mice to slim down without having to move a single muscle.

Oddly enough, the laboratory animals lost weight despite being fed a high fat diet. What's more, their cholesterol levels reportedly went down. The Huffington Post says that the REV-ERV protein influences how much a person sleeps and how fast their metabolism works. It also helps neutralize cholesterol levels.

This was why the mice whose REV-ERV levels were controlled by the scientists started burning more energy and using more oxygen than they normally would have while simply hanging around their enclosures.

Odds are many ordinary folks would jump at the chance to bid gyms farewell and turn to popping pills instead.

However, specialists warn that, even if this were possible, choosing the easy way out is almost never the right thing to go.

They argue that, besides burning loads of calories, people who exercise on a regular basis also have their bodies flooded with endorphins, which put them in a good mood. It is unlikely that an exercise pill would have the same effect.

Should one such pill ever be created, it would be best if disabled people were the only ones who had access to it.

As specialist Thomas Burris puts it, “It is not inconceivable that at some point in the future, such a drug might allow people, especially those who are disabled or can’t otherwise exercise, to enjoy the health benefits of endurance without the exertion.”