Effectiveness of Metformin on Weight Loss in Non-Diabetic Individuals with Obesity
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OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of metformin for the treatment of obesity has been evaluated in few clinical trials with inconclusive results. Moreover, the effectiveness in a real-life outpatient setting has not been tested until today. In this study we aimed to examine the effectiveness of metformin as a weight reducing drug in obese and overweight patients with regard to their degree of insulin resistance. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: We treated 154 consecutive patients with a body mass index ≥27 kg/m(2) in an outpatient setting over 6 months with metformin up to a dosage of 2,500 mg per day. Additionally, we included 45 untreated patients as controls. Patients were monitored for weight changes over 6 months. Before metformin treatment was started insulin sensitivity was determined in all patients by calculating HOMA index and Matsuda index after a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS: The mean weight loss in the metformin treated group was 5.8±7.0 kg (5.6±6.5%). Untreated controls gained 0.8±3.5 kg (0.8±3.7%) on average. Patients with severe insulin resistance lost significantly more weight as compared to insulin sensitive patients. The percentage of weight loss was independent of age, sex or BMI. CONCLUSION: Metformin is an effective drug to reduce weight in a naturalistic outpatient setting in insulin sensitive and insulin resistant overweight and obese patients.
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Metformin supports weight loss by reducing food consumption.
“Furthermore, it supports weight loss344 by reducing food consumption.345”
From Pancreatic regulation of glucose homeostasis. (2016) · cites this paper as [344]
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- Authors
- Seifarth, C., Schehler, B., & Schneider, H.
- Affiliations
- Practice for Endocrinology, Regensburg, Germany
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
- Venue
- Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes
- Publisher
- Georg Thieme Verlag KG
- Published
- 2012-11-12
- Volume
- 121
- Issue
- 01
- Pages
- 27-31
- ISSN
- 0947-7349 (ISSN-L)
- 1439-3646
- OpenAlex
- W2047377453
- Cited by
- 258
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 8
- FWCI
- 5.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes
- Keywords
- metformin, obesity, weight loss, insulin resistance, overweight, HOMA index, Matsuda index, outpatient care, non-diabetic patients
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Female, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Insulin Resistance, Male, Metformin, Middle Aged, Obesity, Outpatients, Sex Factors, Time Factors, Weight Loss, Body Mass Index
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