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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2013; 121(01): 27-31
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1327734
Article
© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effectiveness of Metformin on Weight Loss in Non-Diabetic Individuals with Obesity

C. Seifarth
1   Practice for Endocrinology, Regensburg, Germany
,
B. Schehler
1   Practice for Endocrinology, Regensburg, Germany
,
H. J. Schneider
2   Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 09 July 2012
first decision 13 September 2012

accepted 12 October 2012

Publication Date:
12 November 2012 (online)

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Abstract

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/m2 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.

Key words

metformin - obesity - insulin resistance
 

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