Viagra may have weight loss potential

by Letizia Orlandi - 2013.03.06

A new episode could be about to open in the story of Viagra. Having won the faith of millions of men, it now seems that the little blue pills can also help to treat obesity. The drug, mainly used in the therapy of male erectile dysfunction, could potentially also help to reduce body weight by 15%. So far, researchers at the University of Bonn have only tested this on male mice, so the research is far from conclusive. Being fed on a high-calorie diet with a daily dose of sildenafil, the mice were able to digest the excess fat so quickly that they did not put on weight. Part of the reason for this was increased sexual activity. The study shows potential as a way of understanding the mechanisms of obesity in humans. However, the therapeutic possibilities still remain to be seen, given that the doses of Viagra involved – three times the recommended quantity – would make the treatment impractical for humans.