IMAGINE being able to swap your workout for a pill.
This could soon be a reality thanks to researchers at Victoria's Deakin University.
The scientists have found a drug that has similar effects on muscles and metabolic health as exercise.
Deputy director of Deakin's metabolic research unit Sean McGee said the discovery opened up possibilities for future treatments for diseases linked with inactivity, such as cardiovascular disease.
"We have identified a drug that makes the body respond as if it has exercised, with all the fat burning and cardiovascular benefits," Associate Professor McGee said.
The team found the drug mimicked the effects of exercising when trialling it on mice.
They also found the mice were able to run much longer on an exercise treadmill, burned more fat, and had reduced blood lipids and blood glucose levels.
But don't get your hopes up too soon - it doesn't cause weight loss.
"We know that exercise alone is not that effective at making you loss weight, which is more associated with dietary changes," he said.
"We really don't see this drug providing an alternative for those people who just can't be bothered exercising."
Associate Professor McGee said the ultimate aim is to use the drug therapeutically.
"This could be for frail people who can't exercise but are at risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or metabolic disease, or patients with obesity who struggle to exercise."
Scientists are now looking to design a more specific drug before moving to human trials.
