Diabetes drug metformin and weight loss: What you should know

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Metformin is a medication that is prescribed mainly for controlling blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition, the diabetes drug metformin is also “intravenous” as a medicine that can help you. effective weight loss. However, is that really true?

1. Metformin has weight loss effect or not?

According to recent research, metformin can help some people lose weight effectively. However, the exact reason why this drug can help you lose weight is still unclear. Experts say that metformin can make you consume less food by reducing cravings. In addition, it can also change the way our bodies use and store fat.
Although studies have shown that the use of metformin can lead to weight loss, it is not a quick fix. In fact, weight loss with metformin will tend to happen gradually over 1-2 years. On the other hand, weight loss results also vary from person to person. The study also showed that the average weight loss after more than two years of using metformin was 4 to 7 pounds (1.81kg - 3.18kg).
However, if you only use metformin without following other healthy habits, it will also make weight loss useless. Healthcare professionals say that people who follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly while taking metformin tend to lose more weight than others. This is because metformin works to help increase the number of calories your body burns during physical exercise. So, if you don't exercise, you will inadvertently miss out on this great benefit.
Besides, your weight loss can only be maintained as long as you use metformin regularly. That is, if you stop using metformin, there is a high chance your weight will return to the baseline. Even if you're still on this drug, you can slowly regain the weight you've been trying to lose all this time.
In other words, metformin is not a miracle weight loss pill as you might expect. It may help with weight loss in certain people, but not everyone. One of the notable benefits of metformin is that while it doesn't help you lose the weight you want, it doesn't make you gain extra weight either.
MORE: Metformin: Notes when treating type 2 diabetes

2. Can people with diabetes use metformin to lose weight?

If you have prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, or are overweight or obese, your doctor may prescribe metformin to help you control your diabetes and reduce your risk of diabetes. sugar and effective weight loss. In fact, your doctor may prescribe metformin to help you lose weight even if you don't have diabetes or prediabetes.
Using metformin in this way would be called off-label use. That means the FDA has not approved metformin as a weight loss drug. Therefore, less information is available about how effective metformin is for this purpose.

3. Dosage of metformin for weight loss

The dose of metformin will depend on the prescription given to you by your doctor. You can start with a low dose of metformin, then gradually increase it over the course of a few weeks. This will greatly reduce your risk of experiencing any unwanted side effects from the medication.

4. Certain health conditions can cause you to lose weight

If you are losing weight while using metformin, this may be due to an effect of the drug. However, you can also lose weight due to a number of other factors, such as certain health problems that cause you to lose your appetite, including:
Anxiety Depression Stress Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Cancer Parkinson's disease AIDS Besides metformin, using other medicines can also make you lose weight. Cancer chemotherapy drugs make you lose weight by suppressing your appetite. Certain metabolic thyroid medications can also be triggers for weight loss, such as liothyronine, levothyroxine, and liotrix. Other drugs can also promote weight loss, including ADHD medications (such as methylphenidate (Concerta) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall)).
In addition, weight loss can also stem from a number of digestive system problems, including:
Irritable bowel syndrome Diarrheal disease Intestinal or stomach infections Bowel or stomach surgery MORE: Diarrhea What should I do when taking Metformin?

5. Note when using metformin to lose weight

Overall, metformin is a relatively safe drug for health. In the event of side effects, these problems should gradually go away on their own over time. Weight loss while taking the drug should be gradual and minimal, should not cause alarm signs. If you're concerned about the weight you've lost while taking metformin, you should talk to your doctor to determine what's causing your weight loss and what needs to be done to correct it.
Whether you are taking metformin or not, you should contact your doctor if you are losing weight rapidly, have no energy, or have lost your appetite. You should also see your doctor if your weight has dropped more than 10 pounds (over 4.54kg) in the past 6-12 months for no apparent reason.

6. Talk to your doctor about using metformin for weight loss

The path to weight loss is different for each person. However, the weight loss method recommended by most doctors is a combination of a healthy diet and exercise.
For people who want to use metformin for weight loss purposes, it is advisable to talk to your doctor carefully to learn more about this drug. Your doctor will help you answer a few questions, thereby finding a weight loss plan that is right for you. Here are some questions you can ask your doctor, including:
What diet and exercise will help me lose weight? Do I really need medication to lose weight? What weight loss goals are right for me? Should I talk to a dietitian about a suitable diet for weight loss? If I lose weight, do I need to stop taking certain medications for diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol? Metformin is a medication commonly prescribed by doctors to treat diabetes. However, for the purpose of weight loss, the source of information is very limited. So, if you choose to lose weight with Metformin, consult a qualified doctor or pharmacist.

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Reference source: healthline.com