Can an exercise pill really work?
They're calling it the couch potato's dream but how true are the claims that there's a pill that can make you fitter without exercising?
What is the 'gym pill'?
It's a drug known as AICAR, developed by US scientists designed to get people fit without the need for exercise. Tests on mice show that they were able to burn off fat without moving a muscle and when tested on a treadmill, they could run 70% longer than the mice who didn't take the pill.
How does it work?
The pill works by tricking your muscles into thinking they've been worked out on a daily basis and as a result, it kicks in the fat-burning process that comes after exercise. It'll also make any activity that you do much easier.
But has it only been tested on mice?
Yes, but plans to trial the drug on humans are in the pipeline and scientists are very excited about the prospect.
What will the pill be used for?
Scientists plan to use the drug to treat people with health problems such as severe obesity and muscle decline caused by old age rather than prescribing it to just anyone. Experts are saying that there are lots of other conditions that it could be used to help treat.
When will it be available for us?
Once the human trials get under way the drug should be available within 2 or 3 years.
What the experts say
Professor Evans of the Salk Institute in California says: 'Almost no one gets the recommended 40 minutes to an hour per day of exercise. For these people, it would make the quality of the exercise that they do more efficient.'
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By Charlotte Gunn
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