Body beautiful - without exercise?




Scientists are carrying out research which could allow people to build up muscles without exercising, it has emerged.

The study at the University of Dundee could pave the way for a drug that would remove the need for a punishing work-out to achieve the body beautiful.

And if successful, the research could also be a major benefit for the elderly and sufferers of chronic diseases.

Dr Keith Baar, principal investigator in molecular physiology at the School of Life Sciences, has received a £247,000 grant from the Wellcome Trust to identify muscle-building genes.

He will focus on a number of proteins believed to play a role in the ability of muscle to respond to resistance exercise.

And he is also looking at ways that these proteins can be activated naturally such as by eating at a certain time after working out.

Dr Baar said: "If we can find a way to build or maintain muscle without the need for exercise, it could obviously make a major difference for people suffering from these kind of chronic diseases which not only can cause the loss of muscle mass and function, but also severely affect quality of life.

"There is always the potential for using it for other purposes.

"For people working out, it could definitely be used in that vein and also for other people such as those with type 2 diabetes.

"If you increase your muscle mass, then that will increase your metabolism."