'Exercise Pill' Sounds WAY Too Good to Be True

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by Emily Abbate 17 hours ago

Exercise takes effort, period. In most cases, getting outside for a late afternoon jog is much, much less appealing than sitting out barbecuing with your girlfriends. So what if I were to tell you that there may soon be a new pill that promises the benefits of exercise, sans effort. Sounds too good to be true, right? I know! Two new studies reveal that an "exercise pill" may not be too far off.

In one study, mice were treated with a synthetic drug that not only burned calories, but also aided in weight loss, despite the fact that they were moving around less and eating the same as always. In a separate study, mice injected with the drug showed increased endurance. In short: this drug that they're testing may have the capability to make you feel like Superman and lose weight without getting up off the couch.

But like I said, it sounds too good to be true ... because it is.

The first thing I'll say is that there are already plenty of supplements on the market that aid in weight loss and help boost endurance. That, well, that's nothing new. The problem with this potential "exercise pill," just like those supplements, is that it can't give you the toning or heart healthy benefits of real exercise. While users may be able to slim down, you won't necessarily develop great muscle tone.

Not to mention, real exercise boosts your endorphins, which put you in an overall better mood. Yeah, sneaking in a sweat session can be a bit of a hassle, but afterward I'm almost always in a better mood. I'm pretty sure no pill can substitute for that feeling of accomplishment. At the end of the day, I'm much more into the real deal than this potential little pill, no matter how much of a bother it can be. Hey, that's just me.

Would you take an "exercise pill" in place of the real thing?

Image via Farm_Studio_Field/Flickr

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