Friday, August 1, 2008

Mimic Exercise to Lose Weight

"Just like Free Lunch w/o the Calories" says Dr. Evans, leader of the Salk group of Researchers at the Salk Institute of San Diego. He wasn't talking in his sleep. He apparently knows that drugs may introduce the benefits of exercise without the exertion part by just taking this particular pill that "tricks the muscles into thinking they have been working out furiously." Two drugs known as Aicar and GW1516 were studied through experimental mice that have increased endurance, which resulted to an impressive effect. Now they're currently studying with other scientific groups if this could be applied to people and if it's actually safe. If it's proven safe, well, this could be the million-dollar drug everyone would kill for a chance to buy. I say, line me up.

The underlying purpose of the drug was to aid people who are too frail, unhealthy, with conditions (obesity, diabetes), and...er...just too lazy, to improve the effects of any amount of exercise they would generate. Even experts not connected with this hot study like Dr. Johan Auwerx, a specialist in metabolic diseases at the University Louis Pasteur in France, noted the results of these drugs are "pretty" good and seen as treatment for diabetes and obesity. To lose weight and be healthy one should have a proper diet and exercise, but to have the exercise part mimicked will surely be a plus if not a glorious factor.

Although it's too good to be true that I wonder what possible muscular or non-muscular side effects it would generate. It might either make the silly eyelid twitch longer perhaps Or occasional painful cramps? This is just paranoia talking, but ultimately we shall decide once it's been concluded safe. I'm sure that once it's released commercially, there are willing souls to try it out without the 'exertion" part. Until a first set of critical testimonials is issued, then I'm more than willing to wait.

Read full article here in NYTimes.

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