[Rob43]

NORMAN, Okla., Feb. 3 (UPI) -- A weight-loss supplement tested by the University of Oklahoma has the potential to burn as many calories as a 20-minute walk.

Joel T. Cramer, assistant professor of exercise physiology, says General Nutrition Centers contracted with the University of Oklahoma to test the weight-loss benefits of the supplement called the tri-pepper blend, which contains black pepper, caffeine and a concentrated form of capsaicin -- the ingredient that makes red peppers hot.

The study showed energy expenditures of 3 percent to 6 percent -- results statistically significant enough to validate product weight-loss claims, Cramer said.

A group of study participants were given the supplement or a placebo followed by a metabolic rate test. The study measured oxygen consumed and carbon dioxide produced by participants to determine the arresting metabolic rate of each after receiving the supplements.

The study confirmed the viability of the weight-loss supplement, Cramer said.

The amount of the supplement blend required to achieve the equivalent of a 20-minute walk was not provided.

Pill may burn calories of a 20-minute walk - UPI.com

[musique913]

Goes to show how lazy we are that we need a pill for this! I could see it being used for people who literally can't walk, but otherwise..no?

[graham44]

How many calories do you burn in a 20 minute walk...? 10? 50?
...a 20 minute walk...thats so sad if people are so lazy they cant take a freakin' 20 minute walk. I'm sorry, but they deserve to be fat if they wont (not cant) take a 20 minute walk.

[fgummett]

I walk for far more than a way to burn calories

[cwathne]

Originally Posted by musique913

Goes to show how lazy we are that we need a pill for this! I could see it being used for people who literally can't walk, but otherwise..no?

^this

Originally Posted by graham44

How many calories do you burn in a 20 minute walk...? 10? 50?
...a 20 minute walk...thats so sad if people are so lazy they cant take a freakin' 20 minute walk. I'm sorry, but they deserve to be fat if they wont (not cant) take a 20 minute walk.

^this

Originally Posted by fgummett

I walk for far more than a way to burn calories

^and this

[Seabear70]

Now for a completely different reply...It is interesting to note that the best exercise (at least as far as burning calories) in the world is one that we work hard to train out of our children. Fidgeting. Don't believe me? Put on a heart rate monitor and measure your resting heart beat, then tap your toe for a half hour, watch what happens.

There is a reason why kids that can't sit still are the skinniest kids.

Now what does this have to do with the conversation? At a guess, the pill burns calories by boosting the metabolism. If you were to use this as a supplement to your normal exercise plan, then you would gain some usable benefit. Maybe not a huge one, but definitely some benefit.

Now who would gain the most from this? Ever seen someone who weighed over 400 pounds? Take that person, get them to walk a mile a few times a week, and put them on this sort of pill. Every little bit would help that person.

In fact, if your goal is to lose weight, which is imperative according to my Dr., then every little bit would help each of us.

Am I saying this is a good idea, this pill? No, I'm not qualified to judge that. What I am saying is that it is not something to be automatically dismissed as a lazy person's exercise program.

[jkane13]

If eating spicy food would make me loose weight, I'd be skinny! I call BS!

[Seabear70]

Originally Posted by jkane13

If eating spicy food would make me loose weight, I'd be skinny! I call BS!

I'm guessing it's not the pepper in the General Tso's Chicken, but the half pound of sugar that would make you put on weight.

[shiftzor]

Originally Posted by Seabear70

.....There is a reason why kids that can't sit still are the skinniest kids.....

Interesting idea, I would say that it has more to do with genetics and environment. Often fat kids will grow putting all the weight into height. I was a fat kid and now I am skinny, although not massively tall .

[graham44]

Originally Posted by Seabear70

Now for a completely different reply...It is interesting to note that the best exercise (at least as far as burning calories) in the world is one that we work hard to train out of our children. Fidgeting. Don't believe me? Put on a heart rate monitor and measure your resting heart beat, then tap your toe for a half hour, watch what happens.

There is a reason why kids that can't sit still are the skinniest kids.

Now what does this have to do with the conversation? At a guess, the pill burns calories by boosting the metabolism. If you were to use this as a supplement to your normal exercise plan, then you would gain some usable benefit. Maybe not a huge one, but definitely some benefit.

Now who would gain the most from this? Ever seen someone who weighed over 400 pounds? Take that person, get them to walk a mile a few times a week, and put them on this sort of pill. Every little bit would help that person.

In fact, if your goal is to lose weight, which is imperative according to my Dr., then every little bit would help each of us.

Am I saying this is a good idea, this pill? No, I'm not qualified to judge that. What I am saying is that it is not something to be automatically dismissed as a lazy person's exercise program.

I took ephedra when I first started jogging...figured it would "motivate me" to run. I felt obligated to get out and run since I'd taken a pill for extra energy. Funny thing is, I started taking 2 at lunch to run 5 miles, then I'd take 1-2 more after work and run another 4-5 miles...probably would have done a triple marathon and blew my heart up if they hadn't gone and made it illegal. But at least I would have been skinny

[fgummett]

There was an interesting BBC Horizon Documentary called "Why Are Thin People Not Fat?" that partially repeated a study done in the Vermont Prison system in the 1960's. In the Vermont study they attempted to get their "captive" participants to gain weight so they could study the actual process of weight gain rather than just focus of people who were already overweight/obese. The volunteers were well motivated with all the food they could, eat, no need to exercise and early parole if they succeeded in putting on the weight... no problem... we all know how the 1st law of thermodynamics works... calories in minus calories out... right? Turns out that for some of the participants even eating 10,000 calories per day (with no exercise) they were unable to reach the projected weight targets

It seems that the body will do any number of "tricks" to try and maintain what it thinks is your "correct" weight...including raising the basal metabolic rate (BMR), turning up the heat production and fidgeting... BUT for those who try to lose below the weight your body has established, the opposite effect takes place; where fidgeting stops, heat production goes down, BMR is reduced, lethargy sets in.. anything to save energy... despite your best efforts at killing yourself at the gym and/or restricting calories in. I can certainly relate... anyone else?

[jkane13]

Originally Posted by Seabear70

I'm guessing it's not the pepper in the General Tso's Chicken, but the half pound of sugar that would make you put on weight.

LOL!

But ... the story above did not say diet mattered! It just said take this pill and loose 20 lbs.

[jkane13]

I was a hyperactive kid. By today's standards I would have been called ADHD. Look, something shiny! What were we talking about?

Oh yeah, I weighed around 120 when I graduated from High School. Never stopped moving. I would run everywhere, and moved from the moment I literally jumped out of bed until my head hit the pillow at night.

Over time, I was forced by society to slow down. I learned to not bounce my leg as I sat in a room with others. I learned not to flap my arms in the air while watching a TV show. (My Mom gave me the nick name J-Bird when I was little.)

I also gained about 10-20 lbs a year. By the time I was in my mid 30's I was up to 300 lbs.

I agree with the concept that making kids sit still all the time is not good for them!