Nestle developing a fat-burning drink that may replace exercise

A group of scientists are trying to discover the recipe to a drink that can mimic the fat-burning effects of physical activity.

18:06 21 November 2014

Swiss food corporation Nestle has unveiled plans to invent a fat-burning drink that can mimic the effects of physical activity. The project aims to identify natural substances that can stimulate an enzyme in the body to effectively regulate the body’s metabolism.

Professor Kei Sakamoto, the institute’s head of diabetes and circadian rhythms, said that the goal was to “develop products that will help promote and augment the effects of exercise”.

“AMPK is a key protein in every single cell in your body and is naturally activated by exercise,” he said. “It monitors your energy status, like a fuel gauge in a car, and tells you to fill up when your energy is low.”

Nestle’s own scientists are yet to discover the key ingredient and testing could still be several years off.
 
Professor David Haslam, chair of the UK’s National Obesity Forum, said: “With every hormone or molecule or compound there’s always going to be some artificial chemical that can react upon it. The question is whether this is the right thing to do.”