Exercise in a pill may soon be a reality.

Listen to this broadcast, but remember, everything comes with a price. 

Can a pill be a good substitute for exercise? Is it necessary to boost the performance of the average adult? And what are the side effects of this drug? Of course, more research is needed to decide it's safety.  

This news will lure both athletes and sedentary folks:

In addition to their allure for endurance athletes, drugs that mimic the effects of exercise have therapeutic potential in treating certain muscle diseases, such as wasting and frailty, hospital patients unable to exercise, veterans and others with disabilities as well as obesity and a slew of associated metabolic disorders where exercise is known to be beneficial...

...After only four weeks and without any prior training, these mice got up and ran 44 percent longer than untreated, untrained mice. "That's as much improvement as we get with regular exercise," says Narkar.

So what happens when a user stops taking the drug? Does the body go back to square one? Will the body decompensate even worse than it's original state after the drug (mechanism for growth) is gone? Will the user be so accustomed to not working out that they will never workout and reap the incredible benefits of true exercise such as increased motivation, excitement, and vigor?

Personally, I love the rush of endorphins and the thrill of feeling like a kid again through exercise.  

I guess others might rather choose to support Big Pharma for the rest of their lives; tisk, tisk.

Thanks Conditioning Research.