MIGHTY MOUSE

U.S. scientists have used muscle-bound mice to show how weight training may be just as effective as aerobic exercise in melting away fat.

While the mice did not actually pump iron, their genetically modified muscles were made to resemble those found in bodybuilders.

And while that type of "brawny" muscle was thought to have little capacity to burn fat, the study suggested its presence in the body could melt away pounds as readily as aerobic activities.

The mice, obese to begin with, were expected to grow into sumo wrestler-like rodents. Instead, they experienced weight loss of some 40 per cent within three weeks of developing bodybuilder-type muscles.

Researchers manipulated the mice into bulking up by switching on a gene that promotes type II muscle growth, but not its aerobic counterpart, type I.

Although they looked only slightly more muscular than your average rodent, most of the muscle they did have was of the fast-twitch variety.

Both scientists say the weight-training muscle may also help control diseases like Type 2 diabetes and heart ailments.