Exercising can prove difficult for someone suffering with asthma, as working out can be a trigger for an attack.
But there may be hope for those with the condition, as new research suggests a medicine used to treat asthma could also help you burn fat.
A study into the use of formoterol showed that, taken in pill form, the drug could boost fat burning, while helping the patient maintain muscle mass.
Eight men were given 160mg of formoterol in pill form every day for a week. Their energy rates, fat oxidation and protein metabolism – responsible for maintaining muscle mass, was measured before and after the study.
The results showed that their energy rates increased by more than 10 percent after the study compared to before. They burnt 25 percent more fat after they had been taking formoterol than they were before the study.
Researchers suggest an average person could burn up to 200 extra calories a day if they take formoterol in the pill form.
Formoterol is usually prescribed to people suffering from asthma as an inhaler. When inhaled, the drug can cause an abnormally fast heartbeat. This side effect was not recorded when the drug was taken in pill form.
Other, similar drugs were examined as fat burners and while they did reduce body fat, they wouldn’t have the same dramatic results as the formoterol.
While the drug may be able to help you burn more fat, nothing can improve your health and fitness more than exercising. And while strenuous exercise can bring on an asthma attack, gentle exercise should be safe. Check with your doctor before embarking on any new exercise routine.