Scientists Say We Are One Step Closer To "Exercise In A Pill"

   By SheSpeaksTeam  May 08, 2017
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You can make sure to eat all of your veggies, but without regular exercise you’re not getting all of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Health experts and doctors regularly advise patients to get exercise, but for those with limited mobility - getting daily exercise can be impossible. But, what if there was a pill you could take that would give you all of the same benefits of a vigorous workout? A new study suggests we are closer to this being a reality.

Medical News Today reports about the study from Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, CA that suggests “exercise in a pill” may some day be very possible. Researchers involved in the study are confident that they have identified a chemical compound which activates the same gene that a brisk run activates.

The gene is called PPAR delta (PPARD) and when scientists used the chemical compound to activate this gene in sedentary mice, they saw them receive many of the same benefits exercise brings. The mice were able to burn fat quicker and had increased endurance by 70% after this gene was activated.

Despite current health guidelines advising we get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, only 49% of us are getting this type of exercise. Though many of us simply feel we don’t have the time, energy or motivation to get moving - there are the elderly and those who lack mobility that are unable to gain the benefits of a workout. But with “exercise in a pill” scientists are encouraged that they can help those who are wheelchair bound or living with mobility issues to get the same health benefits as a physically active adult. Senior author of the study Ronald Evans explains, “Exercise is valuable for many different kinds of problems. With this research, you can begin to think about how a therapeutic that confers the advantages of fitness could help people gain health benefits. The greater potential is essentially unlimited.”

What do you think of the new study that suggests we may one day see “exercise in a pill”?

Do you think this type of discovery can benefit those who are unable to get regular exercise?

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Nicole409 by Nicole409 | MOUNT OLIVE, NC
Jun 14, 2017

No thanks. I don't think "exercise in a pill" is the right answer.

Amberangel by Amberangel | Carrollton, GA
May 08, 2017

No, I think this is morally and spiritually worng. Have you ever watched the movie WALL E? well, there ya go! We are almost to the point that every single thing we are supposed to do naturally and functionally is in a pill. Are we as humans saying that we just want to sit and do nothing? It is almost like we want to be detached from our bodies and only have a brain. Well guess what? That is not too far off in the future where we will be able to even do away with the brain in such a manner where our brain can be downloaded into a robot. I mean really people, enough is enough.