'Exercise pill' may not replace exercise

COLUMBIA, Mo., Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Media reports have described an "exercise pill" that may end the need for exercise, but U.S. researchers say this may not eliminate the need.

Frank Booth, a University of Missouri expert on inactivity, says the exercise pill study did not test all of the commonly known benefits of exercise and taking the pill cannot be considered a replacement for exercise.

Booth cautions that some of the commonly known benefits of exercise not tested in the paper on the exercise pill include:

-- Decreased resting and sub-maximal exercise heart rate.

-- Increased heart stroke volume at all exercise work loads.

-- Increased maximal exercise cardiac output.

-- Lower blood pressure and arterial stiffness.

-- Increased aerobic capacity.

In addition, the risk of chronic disease is reduced by lifelong physical inactivity including: coronary artery disease risk is decreases by 45 percent, stroke risk is decreased risk by 60 percent, hypertension risk is decreased by 30 percent, osteoporosis risk is decreased risk by 59 percent, type 2 diabetes is decreased risk by 50 percent and colon cancer is decreased by 41 percent.