'Miracle drug to rid men of beer bellies'

Men may soon be able to get rid of their beer bellies without cutting calories or doing more exercise, according to scientists who claim to have discovered a "miracle" diet drug.

The breakthrough could lead to a pill which speeds up metabolism and promises to return men in particular to a more youthful, slender shape, doctors in Australia said today.

The drug, only in powder form at present, was tested on 22 obese men at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and was found to be effective in reducing fat around the stomach in men over 30.

The drug, which uses a human growth hormone and is named AOD 9604, has taken four years to develop. Professor Frank Ng, of Monash University, said he and fellow researchers were very excited after seeing middle-aged men lose up to two kilos, or more than four pounds, a month.