Fitness doesn’t come in a pill

I saw an article the other day about a “fitness pill” being developed.

First reported in the online journal Cell, scientists are moving closer to developing a pill that could deliver some of the benefits of exercise -- even for those who don’t exercise. Researchers now have two possible pills that appear able to build muscle, increase stamina and even burn fat.

The very idea of this bothers me, and it should bother anyone who works for their body and their health.

The drug is controversial because of the possibility athletes could misuse it to enhance sports performance.

Yes, that’s bad enough, but that’s not what bothers me about it. I am bothered by what the lead researcher said in a BBC story about the drug.

“If you like exercise, you like the idea of getting 'more bang for your buck,’" Professor Ronald Evans said. "If you don't like exercise, you love the idea of getting the benefits from a pill.”

Getting the benefits from a pill. This is what worries me. I am afraid this will give the already lazy, obese couch potato license to say, “Well, I don’t have to exercise. I’ll just take a pill.” Such a thing would not urge them to make the healthy changes they need to make. They would rely on a pill instead.

If the work can be transferred to humans, Evans said it may have potential for treating people with certain muscle diseases, as well as helping hospital patients, veterans and people with obesity maintain a minimum fitness level.

“In our society there is an ever decreasing amount of time for either healthy food or exercise,” Evans said.

So his answer is to encourage obese people to continue to make their health and fitness a low priority by giving them a pill.

We all have the same 24 hours. It’s a matter of priority. If your health and fitness are important enough to you, you’ll find the time for it.

As of now, the drug has not been approved for use in humans, and it may never be. I hope it isn’t. Such an idea cheapens the hard work that I do, and other people who exercise do, to make our bodies stronger and healthier.

A pill will not give you the pride of achieving a new exercise goal. It can’t replace the ability to do push-ups, or put one more plate on the exercise machine, or pick up the next heaviest dumbbell.

What do you think of the ‘fitness pill’? Will such a thing be abused?