Metformin: an Old Therapy that Deserves a New Indication for the Treatment of Obesity

Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2016 Apr;18(4):16. doi: 10.1007/s11883-016-0568-3.

Abstract

Metformin is not currently used for weight loss or diabetes prevention because it lacks an FDA indication for obesity and/or pre-diabetes treatment. Based on the evidence, metformin has been shown to decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes, and compares favorably to other weight-loss medications in terms of efficacy as well as safety. Thus, metformin should be considered for a treatment indication in patients with these conditions.

Keywords: Diabetes prevention; Metformin; Obesity; Pre-diabetes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Obesity Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Diabetes Mellitus / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Metformin / adverse effects
  • Metformin / therapeutic use*
  • Neoplasms
  • Obesity / drug therapy*
  • Obesity / therapy
  • Weight Loss / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Metformin