Tag: losing weight

Metformin for weight loss – action, effectiveness, side effects

Who can take metformin to lose weight?

Metformin is the world’s most popular diabetes drug. Its main task is to lower the level of glucose in the blood. By the way, metformin may promote weight reduction. Here’s how the effects of metformin on weight loss are assessed by scientists.

Metformin therapy is one of the primary treatment options for type 2 diabetes. The drug is intended for diabetics, especially those who are overweight or obese, who have at least minimal insulin secretion. But this is not the only group that can benefit from metformin treatment. The drug is also prescribed to people who have been diagnosed:

  • prediabetes
  • insulin resistance,
  • polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Metformin is a hypoglycaemic medicine, which means that it reduces the level of sugar in the blood. The mechanism of its action consists in inhibiting the production of glucose in the liver, delaying its absorption in the intestine and strengthening the action of insulin in muscle and fat tissue (increases tissue sensitivity to insulin).

There are many benefits to metformin treatment. It is a medicine that has a cardioprotective effect

  • reduces visceral fat
  • improves the lipid profile,
  • has anticancer properties.

It is hardly surprising that interest in the drug is increasing.

The undoubted advantage of using metformin is that even in high doses it does not cause a dangerous drop in sugar in the body, i.e. hypoglycemia, because it does not increase insulin secretion.

The drug is taken in the form of tablets and dispensed by prescription. It occurs under various trade names, m.in. as Metformax, Glucophage, Metfogamma and Siofor.

Metformin for weight loss : is it effective?

Metformin is recommended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes especially for people who are overweight and obese, because it helps control weight and can reduce weight by reducing visceral fat (this is the fat that surrounds the internal organs). It is worth mentioning that antidiabetic drugs can have various effects on body weight – after some of them kilograms even increase. Taking metformin can also gain weight… Therefore, the doctor will certainly inform you, prescribing the drug, that metformin should be used in combination with a healthy lifestyle: daily physical activity and diet. In such a combination, the drug will certainly help in weight loss.

Metformin, however, is not a miracle slimming drug. The effect of weight loss, if it occurs, is generally small. It is also not a drug registered and approved for the treatment of obesity, although it can be prescribed to obese people on an off-label basis, i.e. off-label in the leaflet, if a given person has a risk of metabolic complications resulting from overweight.

Remember that metformin, even if it does not lose weight from "external" fat, will certainly deprive the body of excess unhealthy fat that circulates in the blood vessels and causes the deposition of atherosclerotic plaque. One study involving women with PCOS found that although the drug does not have a significant effect on reducing body fat, it reduces total cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol and triglycerides. Thanks to this, it prevents dangerous cardiovascular diseases.

How many pounds can you lose weight during treatment with metformin?

Of course, this depends on our lifestyle habits, as well as the dose of the drug, which is always decided by the doctor. However, the general conclusion emerges from the studies that the weight loss during metformin therapy is rather small. Unless we make additional changes.

In a 3-year study on the prevention of type 2 diabetes – Diabetes Prevention Program – it was proven that metformin was effective in preventing diabetes and caused weight reduction of 2 kg. This was the case for patients taking 2 × 850 mg/d. In comparison, the behavioural intervention in this study aimed at lifestyle change resulted in an average weight reduction of 5.6 kg in participants.

It is therefore easy to conclude that the best results will be achieved if metformin treatment is accompanied by regular physical activity and diet.

side effects

Like any drug, metformin can also cause side effects. Its use causes patients unpleasantness , especially at the beginning of treatment. Regardless of the purpose for which they use the drug. The most common side effects are:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea,
  • abdominal pain
  • lack of appetite,
  • metallic taste in the mouth.

Usually, the symptoms appear at the beginning of therapy and disappear over time. There are also sometimes headaches, drowsiness and weakness.

Metformin very rarely causes more dangerous side effects that can lead to complications. In this context, for example, lactic acidosis and inhibition of vitamin B12 absorption are mentioned, which may result in megaloblastic anemia. However, these are rare side effects.

To prevent undesirable consequences of therapy, the doctor prescribes in most cases first a lower dose of the drug, and over time gradually increases it.

Why am I not losing weight? 12 mistakes that can cause an ineffective diet

Why are you not losing weight? It may be due to health issues, body recomposition, or a bad diet. There are many reasons why slimming methods won’t work for you, so check which ones apply to you.

Weight loss programme not working
Photo by Jessica Monte on Pexels.com

Check if you are making one of the 12 most common mistakes that make it difficult to lose weight or body fat.

You are not losing weight because you have a health problem

If you suspect issues with weight loss, check your health. Test thyroid hormone levels, glucose levels, and insulin levels using blood tests. Perhaps your inability to lose weight is due to hypothyroidism or insulin resistance. Before continuing to lose weight, ask your doctor for a recommendation for testing.

You don’t lose weight because you expect results too quickly.

Giving yourself time to lose weight is important, as normal and natural weight loss is 0.5-1% per week. The effects of weight loss depend on your starting body weight, so it is harder to lose 1 kg if you are only 5 kg overweight than if you have 30 kg to lose.

You don’t lose weight because you expect a constant weight loss

Weight loss is not a monotonous process, so take more measurements and don’t weigh yourself obsessively. One measurement per week is enough, and don’t be discouraged if the scale shows a higher result than last time.

You’re losing weight, but your weight doesn’t reflect it

Body weight can go up or down depending on your menstrual cycle, how much water you drink, and what’s in your gut. Track your progress by measuring your waist circumference in centimeters rather than using a scale.

You don’t lose weight because you don’t weigh products on a kitchen scale

Accuracy is essential when following a calorie-specific diet to maintain a caloric deficit. Use a kitchen scale to ensure accurate measurements.

You’re not losing weight because you’re consuming liquid calories

The daily calorific value of milk added to coffee can add up to several hundred extra calories per day, making it difficult to lose weight.

You’re not losing weight because you’re not eating enough

Never eat less than your basal metabolic rate, because that will throw off the balance of your hormones and make it harder to lose weight.

Reduce caloric intake gradually to achieve weight loss, adjusting to body weight and expectations.

You’re not losing weight because you’re not eating right

Use a balanced slimming diet with a good distribution of macronutrients to lose weight permanently, avoiding bread, pasta, rice, groats, potatoes. Carbohydrates play an important role in the weight loss process.

You’re not losing weight because you’re losing weight the same way as your friend

A healthy and effective diet should be well-balanced and made for each person. There is no one correct recipe.

You are not losing weight because you regularly take laxatives

Laxatives can slow down the bowels and make constipation worse. This can lead to electrolytic disorders that stop the muscles from contracting. This is a dangerous and ineffective weight loss method.

You don’t lose weight because you eat too much 

Reduce the caloric content of diet or increase physical activity to lose weight. Calculate your caloric needs and determine the caloric content of your diet.

You’re not losing weight because you don’t have much muscle

Strength and muscle-strengthening exercises, not just cardio, should be part of a woman’s training plan to help her build muscle tissue and avoid becoming overweight.

Urbanska, Anna. “Dlaczego Nie Chudnę? 12 Błędów, Które Mogą Być Przyczyną Nieskutecznej Diety – Polki.pl.” Polki.pl, 20 Mar. 2023, polki.pl/dieta-i-fitness/odchudzanie,dlaczego-nie-chudne-bledy-przez-ktore-odchudzanie-nie-dziala,10037802,artykul.html.