New pill could cure low motivation and encourage exercise
Despite evidence showing that boosting your oxygen levels through regular bouts of exercise can not only help you lose weight but also reduce your odds of developing a range of serious conditions, millions of people still struggle to swap their slippers for their trainers and their couch for the local gym.
Now, however, a team of scientists in Switzerland may have come up with the ultimate cure for a lack of self-motivation in the shape of a special pill that will drive you to exercise.
Working at the University of Zurich, the team found that boosting levels of the hormone erythropoietin – also known as epo – in mice led them to be much more active.
This has led them to speculate that it may be possible to produce a drug that will help people get off the couch, boost their oxygen levels and lose weight.
Additionally, any new treatment could also help treat mental illness since increased levels of physical activity have long been credited with easing a range of conditions, including depression and anxiety.
Lead scientist Dr Gerald Weissmann noted that these latest findings are "very exciting" and could have a wide range of health benefits.
"It's not just for athletes. Suppose you're debilitated, sick or depressed. Get a drug that worked this way, and we'd be in good shape," he said.
This comes soon after everyday Britons were urged to take a leaf out of hill-runners books and boost their blood oxygen levels by tackling tough inclines.
According to a new report in Runners World, new research from Sweden shows that runners who tackle hills at least twice a week enjoy significantly higher levels of oxygen in their blood than those who stick to flat courses.
Additionally, the latest findings suggest that even walking up a hill can be beneficial, providing you take short but quick strides up the incline and maintain a strong, upright position at all times.
18/06/2012 14:01:39
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