When it comes to winning the battle of the bulge, we've been told exercise and diet are the best ways to do it.

But what if you could get a six pack just by popping a pill? A study by researchers from the Salk Institute may have done just that -- at least in mice.

Scientist and pharmaceutical researcher Doug Kalman says it's possible to activate specific fat burning receptors in our bodies.

"When you activate these receptors it encourages these cells to use more fat for energy and you store less fat."

Some experts are calling this new research a body-slimming breakthrough a medicine that mimics exercise, and if it works you can shed those extra pounds without ever going to the gym.

In our chromosomes there is a gene called p-par-delta. In mice researchers were able to turn that gene on and the animals never became fat--no matter how much they ate.

"so it was exercise in a needle if you will."

A pill to trigger the same reaction in humans is being researched in Britain. But Jackie Romero-Cuti at Baptist Hosptial says don't give up that gym membership yet exercise will always matter.

"It stengthens your heart, it strengthens your lungs, weightbearing exercises prevent osteoporosis. So there's a variety of reasons that people exercise and i don't think a pill is gonna replace all of those things."

And a good work out will always help keep the weight off.