Im not very much of a scienticitian, so dont ask why this is so stupid, but... are 'excercise pills' possible? I mean, a pill that would have the same effect on the body as excersise.

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, one thing about exercise is it's localized. You work your arm and it gets bigger, you'd have to have something that would just target your arm or legs or whatevs or else you'd be stuck with nasty unintended consequences like those of steroid users.

else you'd be stuck with nasty unintended consequences like those of steroid users.

can you elaborate on what you think those consequences are?

Well steroid use has a lot of documented adverse side effects like rage and small balls. Screws up the organs too.

I would think it is possible ( or would be in the future ) to create a pill that increases the rate at which the body uses energy, but I doubt its possible to create an exercise pill. The only possibility I actually see for such a pill would be one that induces the disease which makes one's muscles grow at an accelerated rate relative to an average person ( I can't remember the name of the disease right now, but if someone could point me to it ). There would be a host of side effects though, ones which would not make it a good alternative to traditional exercise.

What I think you are calling an "exercise pill" is probably HGH or anabolic steroids. HGH actually does increase your muscle volume slightly, but although anabolic steroids are more effective, they require more exercise for so.

In essence, you'd need a pill that not only had the hormonal response of exercise, but did the actual damage to your body that exercise does, which in turn results in growth. There are machines that cause your body to exercise using electrical stimulation.

All the same, I'd rather exercise.
Probably better would be a pill to prevent all the unwanted side-effects of exercise---damaged joints, fatigue, etc..

Nanomachines could do it as well.

Might mimic the effects but not the feelings associated w/ it. Likewise I doubt a pill could ever reproduce the health benefits.

I'd rather have a pill that would burn unwanted fat.

I'd rather have a pill that would burn unwanted fat.
You don't need a pill for that. Just buy a lock, put it on your fridge door then mail yourself the key (put it in the mailbox on Saturday night for maximum benefit). Only $10 (+ cost of stamp) and you're guaranteed to lose at least a few pounds per use of this technique. And the best thing is, unlike a pill you do not have to keep buying the locks, just use the same one. :)

Note : You may need to mail your wallet to yourself also, to avoid simply going out to eat. If you do this make sure you purchase insurance!

You don't need a pill for that. Just buy a lock, put it on your fridge door then mail yourself the key (put it in the mailbox on Saturday night for maximum benefit). Only $10 (+ cost of stamp) and you're guaranteed to lose at least a few pounds per use of this technique. And the best thing is, unlike a pill you do not have to keep buying the locks, just use the same one. :)

Not the best of ideas, starvation diets tend to burn off muscle before fat if you're not exercising.

Simple running is pretty much the easiest way to burn fat, anyone who's interested should google HIIT.

Exercise lowers sympathetic nervous activity and cortisol levels (unless you're starving). Burning fat with a pill, through uncoupling, for example, simply increases energy expenditure without the other positive effects.

A pill that mimics exercise perfectly will never happen, because many of the effects of exercise are local signals that cannot be caused by a pill without side-effects elsewhere.

Well steroid use has a lot of documented adverse side effects like rage and small balls. Screws up the organs too.

Not to mention things like brain cancer.

http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/541011-48med.jpg

To put it short: no

Pills can influence the metabolism in a certain way like to reduce fat/ increase growth rates, but they can not substitute other effects regular training has like:

-Physical stimulus is required so that muscles/vessels/tapes can grow in a cordinated manner (My guess is that anabolica increase the liability to injuries)

-You don´t get your lungs/heart to work with pills which is the only way to train them (what good are muscles without some stamina behind?)

-Training your motoric centre

-Improving coordination

-Gaining mental strength as you do in endurance exercise

Afaik you can only stop muscle degeneration with electro simulation; at least training is waaay more efficient for build-up.

Not to mention things like brain cancer.
Brain cancer falls under "screws up organs"