Scientists have discovered what could be the ultimate workout for couch potatoes: exercise in a pill.
In experiments on mice that did no exercise, the chemical compound, known as AICAR, allowed them to run 44% farther on a treadmill than those that did not receive the drug.
The drug appeared to change the physical composition of muscle, essentially transforming the tissue from sugar-burning fast-twitch fibers to fat-burning slow-twitch ones, the same change that occurs in distance runners and cyclists through training, according to research released Thursday.
"You're getting the benefits of exercise without having to do any work," said David Mangelsdorf, a pharmacologist at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in
On second thought… maybe not:
With more research, scientists said, the drug's fat-burning properties could also help reduce weight, ward off diabetes, prevent heart disease and restore the fitness of bedridden patients.
The last thing I need to do is lose weight… the very last thing. That one lil drawback aside, the development does look remarkable. I saw an interview with the lead scientist on this project on The News Hour with Jim Lehrer this past Friday evening and was impressed (I also looked for a transcript to quote, but there isn’t one). There were a couple of items in the News Hour interview that didn’t make the LA Times article, most specifically the scientist’s opinion the drug should be made available to lazy people. The man’s rationale is that “exercise in a pill” would be good preventive medicine, even for lazy folks. Or…words to the effect of “anything that can reduce the nation’s general health crisis (ed: think obesity)” shouldn’t be ignored or withheld from anyone…couch potatoes included.
I’m down with that.
―:☺:―
Speaking of obesity, exercise, being skinny, and such… I guess I’ll put any political aspirations I may have had on ice:
"Listen, I'm skinny but I'm tough," Sen. Obama said.
But in a nation in which 66% of the voting-age population is overweight and 32% is obese, could Sen. Obama's skinniness be a liability? Despite his visits to waffle houses, ice-cream parlors and greasy-spoon diners around the country, his slim physique just might have some Americans wondering whether he is truly like them.
[…]
"He's too new ... and he needs to put some meat on his bones," says Diana Koenig, 42, a housewife in
"I won't vote for any beanpole guy," another
The last overweight president to be elected was 335-pound William Howard Taft in 1908. As for tall and lanky presidents, "you might have to go back to Abraham Lincoln" in 1860, says presidential historian Stephen Hess. "Most presidents were sort of in the middle."
Well, OK. It looks like fat people won’t vote for skinny guys, so there goes my dream of being P-Ville’s Animal Control Czar. But… but… that’s discrimination! We can’t have that! I’m a victim! I PROTEST! I’m gonna start a MOVEMENT! “Thin is IN!” “Don’t Be A Ninny! C’mon…Get SKINNY!”
Or maybe I’ll just keep trying to gain weight. There are too many skeletons (heh) in my closet to run for anything, anyway.
―:☺:―
Today’s Pic: Speaking of couch potatoes… Here’s SN3 and I on the couch.
Buck, you need some more of my cookin'. LOL!
ReplyDeleteThe terrible thing is that I'm at least 35 pounds lighter today than I am in this pic. Victoria (our hygienist) noticed and remarked on my (lack of) weight when I saw her this past week. Ice cream (and LOTS of it) is the answer, according to her, and I'm buying that!
ReplyDeleteHi Buck! I'm back from vacation and catching up on all your posts!
ReplyDeleteI am skeptical of pills that claim to replace the benefits that good old fashioned exercise and diet, etc. give us. Sooner or later they always discover the pills aren't the wonder drugs we hoped they are.
Some people are just naturally skinny, Buck. I think you are kind of lucky that you can probably eat the high calorie foods the rest of us just dream about. As long as your health is good, seems like being thin is an okay thing.
The exercise pill is sad. Everyone wants the results but will not put forth the effort. Of course not everyone is an exercise nazi like I am. :)
ReplyDeleteThe fat people not voting for skinny people made me laugh. What does weight have to do with political affiliations? ;)
At least you don't have to eat low fat no fat food that tastes like cardboard!
I have to agree with Towanda and Ashely. People just ought to get their lazy butts off the couch and do something! Oh, wait... that would include me. Scratch that.
ReplyDeleteI think I may have a new favorite picture of Bobby. That is adorable!
hmmm... If I remember right there was a time awhile ago I was reading an article about fattening up some of the POW's who had been rescued. They did this by having them fast a day or two after feeding them well and then feeding them well for another day or two. Alternating between fasting and feeding for awhile caused a good weight gain because their bodies would store fat thinking they were going to go without again. Just thought of that while I was reading but it
ReplyDeletedoesn't sound like fun, Buck. I think I'd just stay skinny and enjoy that ice cream ;-)
My mother was talking about an ailing friend of hers one day and she said, "She doesn't look good, she's so thin." And I thought to myself, I hope someone says that about me someday.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as someone who is in the throes of the weight loss struggle - nearing 40 pounds lost! - I have to say that as attractive as that pill sounds...it won't replace good old fashioned willpower and common sense eating.
ReplyDeleteI love the picture with you and SN3 with his little leg propped up on you. I like it when kids touch just to be close. Sometimes GBN1 gives me a big kiss on the lips right in the middle of church and I am a bit embarrassed, but then I think, "She won't aways be kissing me; better take it while I can get it."
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have ever thought about a Presidential canidate's weight, except mabye Hillary's big butt. I wasn't planning on voting for her no matter her butt.
As for an excersize pill - not for me...yet.
What's it called? AICAR? Where do I sign up for a lifetime supply? I'll go pick it up after I finish this fried chicken...
ReplyDeleteWell, actually, after the chicken, I'm having pie. So, after the pie, I'll pick up the AICAR.
Oh, hell, can I just have it mailed to me?
Sharon sez: ...Sooner or later they always discover the pills aren't the wonder drugs we hoped they are.
ReplyDeleteSome people are just naturally skinny, Buck. I think you are kind of lucky that you can probably eat the high calorie foods...
I agree... everything always seems to have "unintended consequences," especially these days. And then there's the FDA (e.g., testing, trials, approval, and all that) to think about, too. I've lost a lil bit of confidence in that organization lately...
As for being naturally skinny and able to eat all those high-calorie foods with no consequences... that's always been the case. That fact alienates a LOT of people I know... example: co-workers and I would go out to lunch; they'd have a salad or some such and I'd get the cream-sauced linguine with clams, lotsa bread,a couple of beers, and a big ol' slice of pie and ice cream for dessert. And that was just lunch. I could SEE the hate in their eyes... ;-)
Dawn: That regimen sounds a lil extreme for me. You're right: I'll stick with the ice cream.
Amy: Your Mom inadvertently put her finger right on the crux of the problem: we equate being thin with being ill, sometimes worse than that.
Kris: "Common" sense isn't common, unfortunately. But like the scientist-guy I saw on PBS said: the drug isn't a panacea, but it WILL help.
Lou: You're absolutely right: you gotta get it while ya can. Especially if you're a Dad and have sons. And I found those weight comments about Obama a lil bit unsettling, too. A person's weight ain't on my short-list of presidential qualifications.
Jim: LOL! Well said, Bro!
Jenn: Your weight should come off eventually, given all the running around you do, LOL! And it's SO good to read how you feel about Obama. I think the bloom is coming off of The Obamanon's rose for a LOT of people. Thank God.