Magic pill that helps you burn fat without exercise

A NEW type of slimming pill has been created that tricks the body into burning off fat.

QUICK FIX The benefits of exercise could soon be achieved with a pill QUICK FIX?: The benefits of exercise could soon be achieved with a pill

The drug works by activating the same process that take place during serious exercise, increasing the amount of calories burnt with no apparent effort.

If further tests are successful, the pill could prove to be a major breakthrough in the battle to beat the bulge.

The drug, a synthetic form of fat, is purely experimental and has only been tested on animals so far.

However, it made mice ­resistant to weight gain, even when they were put on a high-fat diet.





Experts urged caution last night, stressing that slimming pills could only form part of a weight-loss regime.

The drug has been created by Dr Ronald Evans, a scientist at the Salk Institute in San Diego, California.

In tests the pill was able to increase the body’s natural metabolism and trigger genes that are used during exercise.

Dr Evans said: “When you diet your metabolism slows down and it is harder to lose weight.

“With the pill, it stops that happening and, as a result, the mice were resistant to weight gain because they were burning off more energy.”

He said it was possible the pill could be ready to launch within just five years, although tests will be needed to ensure there are no damaging side effects.

Dr Evans hit the headlines in 2004 when he used genetic engineering to create a strain of “marathon mice” that could run farther and longer than their naturally bred counterparts.

It is hoped the latest discovery could lead to new treatments for human metabolic syndrome, which consists of obesity and its consequences, such as high blood pressure, elevated levels of fat in the blood, heart disease and diabetes.

It comes as obesity levels in Britain reach record levels, while diabetes treatments account for more than 10 per cent of the current NHS hospital budget.

There are already a huge number of slimming pills on the market that promise miracle results with minimal effort, ranging from fat-blockers and metabolism-boosters to pills that prevent hunger and beat cravings.

But, at present, there are only three anti-obesity drugs available by prescription.

A spokeswoman for the Royal College of Physicians said: “There are no quick fixes. To lose weight in a sustained way, our advice is to do more activity and consume fewer calories.”

Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “For a minority of people whose immediate health is in danger because of their weight, slimming pills can be an appropriate addition to a tailored diet and exercise.

“But for the majority of ­overweight people, a healthy, ­balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables, and plenty of physical activity should be the only prescription they need.”