Debate: Would you take a pill that motivates you to exercise more?

Struggling to find the motivation to get off your butt and head to the gym? It may be as simple as swallowing a pill, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Zurich in Switzerland.

Lack of motivation is one of the biggest obstacles people face when trying to increase their physical activity.

So what if that motivation came in the form of a pill?

In a study conducted on mice, researchers found that elevating a certain hormone found in the brain, erythropoietin (Epo), resulted in the mice being motivated to run faster, reports the Daily Mail.

While this pill wouldn’t be a quick-fix weight-loss solution, it could lead to some interesting health benefits, especially when it comes to combating obesity and preventing disease. Plus, increased physical activity has also been shown to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, improve bone health and boost your mood.

Published in The FASEB Journal, the study compared three groups of mice: those who received no treatment, those who received an injection of human Epo, and those who were genetically modified to produce human Epo in the brain. The two groups of mice who had Epo in the brain ran faster and for a longer period than the mice who received no treatment.

"If you can’t put exercise in a pill, then maybe you can put the motivation to exercise in a pill instead," says Dr. Gerald Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal.

As for myself, I think I’ll let the health benefits and toning effects of exercise serve as my motivation.

What about you? Would you take a pill if it would motivate you to exercise more? Where do you find the motivation to stick with a workout?

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‘ Motivation tips from Canada’s fittest women
‘ How to stay motivated to lose weight
‘ How to make exercise a habit