Could Viagra, the popular prescription only medicine (POM) which is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), help in losing weight?

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, was originally developed to treat heart conditions, but during original trials it was found to be more effective at treating ED (also known as “impotence”).  However, Sildenfil is sometimes still prescribed for heart contitions and other health problems.

But now, researchers in China have suggested it could be a new way to help lose weight!

It has been found during laboratory and animal studies that Viagra causes changes in body fat, which means that calories are burned off, rather than getting stored.

There are two types of fat in the body: “white” fat, which is what gets stored in our bodies when we have an excess of caloric intake (eating too much, etc), and “brown” fat, which is used by the body to burn calories.

After the original scientific reports from China, researchers at the University of Bonn, in Germany, have also been conducting experiments.

Their studies have shown that Viagra (Sildenafil) can cause the “white” (stored) fat in mice to turn into “beige” fat, a process known as “browning”. Beige fat contains the same protein as brown fat, and both fats convert energy (calories) from food, into heat.

Exactly how Viagra (Sildenafil) actually does this is not yet fully understood, and tests are still being carried out. Full results of the ongoing experiments are due to be published soon.

Public Health England has reported that 25% of UK children (aged between two and ten years old), and 66% of UK adults are obese or overweight.

The health dangers of being overweight include: A higher risk of strokes, heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. And the excess weight can lead to osteoarthritis, due to extra pressure on joints.

Until doctors are ready to prescribe Viagra (Sildenafil) for weightloss, the traditional methods of weight control are still the best options: Controlling dietary intake to the same as, or less than, you burn; and getting plenty of suitable physical activity to burn calories (which includes sexual activity – so you might find the Viagra useful afterall!).

In conjunction with those traditional methods of weight control, prescription medication, such as Xenical, can also be a helpful consideration, in consuitation with a doctor.

For more information about Viagra (and other erectile dysfunction medication), CLICK HERE.

For more information about Xenical and weightloss, CLICK HERE 

For the full story, go to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3252612/It-s-not-just-good-sex-life-Viagra-slim-too.html