Staying in shape and losing weight effortlessly is what this drug could allow
This is the story of a little pill called SLU-PP-332 (it will probably take some marketing work before it hits the market). Researchers at the University of Florida are working on this drug which, once ingested, would reproduce the same effects on the metabolism as physical exercise. Let's be clear: it's not about sculpting a Leon Marchand body without lifting a finger, but rather about staying in shape and losing weight—which is already quite something!
Specifically, this molecule targets specific receptors in the body that are normally stimulated by physical activity. The result: increased energy expenditure and increased use of fat to produce energy. In short, the drug tricks our metabolism into thinking we're running, and the body responds by burning calories.
The researchers published the results of the first tests on mice in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics . Rodents receiving the treatment experienced weight loss, improved endurance, and more efficient blood sugar regulation—three key indicators of metabolic health. Essentially, the drug causes the body to consume more energy (and therefore fat) to function normally.
You might think "it's a lazy thing," but the applications could be much more serious. This pill could help the elderly or those with serious illnesses to maintain their muscle and bone mass; patients recovering from injury to facilitate recovery and return to sport; people suffering from neuromuscular diseases, which cause muscle degeneration; and even astronauts or workers in confined environments (submarines, isolated stations), where physical activity is limited.
Not at all. As always with any medication, it will take years of clinical trials, validations, and monitoring for possible side effects. But we can imagine that within a few years, this type of pill will be a hit, like the appetite-suppressant anti-obesity drugs that are enjoying worldwide success.
The fact remains that this pill will never replace physical activity. Researchers themselves recognize it: exercise provides much more than metabolic benefits. It affects mental health, sleep, and general well-being... not to mention the "shot" of endorphins—the happy hormone—that you feel after a run. And the satisfaction of having pushed yourself to the limit, something no pill can ever provide.
RMC
