Things You Should Know about Metformin and Weight Loss

Can Metformin Help with Weight Loss?

If you’re managing type 2 diabetes with metformin, you might be well acquainted with unwanted side effects of this drug — namely, muscle aches, upset stomach, diarrhea, and sleepiness. These can be a figurative and literal pain, but you might welcome one side effect of metformin with open arms, particularly if you’ve struggled to lose weight.

Metformin isn’t a weight loss drug, but study have found a link between the drug and weight loss.

A long-term study published in April 2012 in the journal Diabetes Care that was conducted by the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) concluded that the drug could serve as a treatment for excess body weight, although more studies are needed.

What We Know About Metformin

Metformin, which is also sold under the trade names Glucophage, Glumetza,  Fortamet, and Riomet, is of the class of drugs called biguanides, which inhibit the production of glucose in the liver.

The medicine does not increase insulin levels in the body, but instead lessens the amount of sugar the body produces and absorbs.

As it lowers glucose production in the liver, metformin also lowers blood sugar by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin. It also decreases the amount of glucose that our bodies absorb from the foods we eat.

For  people with type 2 diabetes, metformin works to bring down blood sugar gradually when combined with a healthy diet and exercise  It’s not so much a quick fix with overnight results as it is an important component of a larger health regimen that keeps the condition manageable.

How Metformin Works

Metformin starts to work in your gut. Some scientists think it changes the balance of the natural bacteria in your digestive system. It also turns on specific enzymes that help the body use fat more effectively.

Scientists have also been trying to understand how metformin leads to weight loss. Because it alters gut bacteria, digestive issues are common side effects. So one early theory was that stomach pain caused people to lose their appetite and eat less, or that they lost water weight from diarrhea. But most of these side effects go away in a few weeks. People who lost weight on metformin continued to lose pounds after that time.

A more likely explanation is that metformin’s changes in the gut tamp down appetite. It may raise the body’s levels of the hormone leptin, which makes you feel full. Since your appetite isn’t working overtime, you eat less.

The weight you lose on the drug comes mostly from fat stores, not the mix of fat and lean muscle that happens with dieting. People on metformin also saw lower waist measurements and waist-to-hip ratios, two ways to measure body fat.

Can metformin cause weight loss?

Metformin can help some people lose weight. However, it’s not clear why metformin may cause weight loss. One theory is that it may prompt you to eat less by reducing your appetite. It may also change the way your body uses and stores fat.

Although studies have shown that metformin may help with weight loss, the metformin is not a quick-fix solution. The weight loss from metformin tends to occur gradually over one to two years. The amount of weight lost also varies from person to person. In the study, the average amount of weight lost after two or more years was four to seven pounds.

Taking the drug without following other healthy habits may not lead to weight loss. People who follow a healthy diet and exercise while taking metformin tend to lose the most weight. This may be because metformin is thought to boost how many calories you burn during exercise. If you don’t exercise, you likely won’t have this benefit.

Any weight loss you have may only last as long as you take the medication. That means if you stop taking metformin, there’s a good chance you will return to your original weight. And even while you’re still taking the drug, you may slowly gain back any weight you’ve lost.

Metformin may not be the magic diet pill some people have been waiting for. It has been shown to reduce weight in some, but not others. One of the benefits of metformin is that even if it does not cause weight loss, it does not cause weight gain. This is not true for some of the medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Can People Without Diabetes Take Metformin?

What if you don’t have type 2 diabetes? Can you still take metformin for weight loss? The short answer is yes. Metformin has been used off-label (or outside its intended purpose) for weight management. But since this drug is only available by prescription and hasn’t been approved for weight loss by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), your doctor might first recommend traditional strategies for weight loss.

For example:

Prepare whole foods, such fruits, vegetables, and grains

Drink water before meals to fill your stomach so that you eat less.

Avoid sugary drinks.

Exercise for 30 minutes most days of the week.

Practice portion control.

Limit intake of processed foods.

Eat a high-protein, low-carb, low-fat diet.

If you don’t have type 2 diabetes, the doctor may sign off on this drug if you’re obese and struggling to lose weight. But again, metformin isn’t a substitute for healthy eating and regular exercise, which are keys to sustainable weight loss. These habits also encourage weight loss if you have type 2 diabetes but can’t take metformin.

For those patients with diabetes who can't take metformin, due to chronic kidney disease or other concerns, diet and lifestyle modifications will still be of utmost importance, whether they’re prescribed alternate medication or not. Controlling carbohydrate intake, increasing physical activity, and managing stress is the cornerstone of improving glycemic control.

Make it a point to stand up every hour or so and walk around the room, the yard, or the block. Little bits of physical activity over the day add up, resulting in the burning of more calories as a result.

Risks and side effects of Metformin

As with any medication, it’s important to consider the associated risks. The current drug labeling by the FDA strongly recommends against metformin use in people who have abnormal kidney function.

For these patients, the use of metformin can increase the risk of developing lactic acidosis, a serious and potentially fatal condition. Lactic acidosis is a result of too much lactic acid buildup in the blood.

It’s also important to know when to seek help for certain side effects.

If you experience the following symptoms while taking metformin, see a doctor:

dizziness

difficulty breathing

weakness

tiredness

unusual sleepiness

random muscle pain

nausea or vomiting

stomach pain

slow or irregular heartbeat

People most at risk of developing lactic acidosis include:

those with liver problems

those who use or abuse alcohol while taking metformin

those with kidney problems

Another side effect is a low blood sugar reaction. When this happens, your blood sugar drops to dangerous levels. If your blood sugar drops too low, there’s a risk of seizures, brain damage, fainting,  or even death.

A low blood sugar reaction needs to be treated immediately to avoid additional dangerous side effects. Treatment usually consists of taking 15 to 20 grams of glucose. This can be done in several ways, including by drinking sugary drinks or eating candies.

Some symptoms of low blood sugar include:

weakness

irritability

drowsiness

headache

hunger

confusion

shakiness

sweating

increased heart rate

dizziness

Other possible side effects include:

heartburn

diarrhea

gas

nausea

stomach pain

Summary

The medication is considered safe to use, but  it can negatively interact with certain medications like aspirin. It’s also not recommended that you drink alcohol on metformin, and you should be cautious about using the drug if you have conditions like anemia or a vitamin B12 deficiency. People with kidney and liver problems should also steer clear.

The most common side effects of using metformin are  loose stools, nausea, and abdominal pain, Obviously, it’s important to take the drug under a doctor’s care.

Metformin is a fairly popular drug prescribed by doctors,  and has shown to help with weight loss. But the medication is only available by prescription, so you need to see your doctor for an evaluation to make sure it’s right for you.

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