Pills Could Offer No-Sweat Weight Loss
Scientists Test Pill That Burns Calories Without Work
Scientists at the Salk Institute in La Jolla believe they could have discovered a breakthrough that down the road could help treating obesity and diabetes.
It's a new drug called AICAR and experiments thus far suggest it may be able to protect against gaining weight, even for those on a high fat diet.
In a study, sedentary mice that took the drug for four weeks burned more calories and had less fat than untreated mice. The scientists also reported that in mice that did exercise training, a second drug -- GW1516 -- made their workout much more effective at boosting endurance. When tested on a treadmill, they could run about 44 percent farther and 23 percent longer than untreated mice.
If the drug, several years down the line, proves effective in humans, it could be the quick-fix many are looking for, though many in the medical field caution about the negative effects of not exercising. Others worry that professional athletes might try to use AICAR to enhance their performance.
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