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Metformin is a medication primarily used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, it may also help overweight adolescents to lose weight. By taking extended-release metformin as part of a lifestyle intervention program, obese teenagers have a greater likelihood of reducing their body mass index (BMI) than those who make lifestyle changes alone. (BMI is a ratio of weight in relation to height used to signify obesity.)
These findings are the result of a study conducted by Darrell M. Wilson, M.D., of Stanford University in California and colleagues in the Glaser Pediatric Research Network. Although the use of Metformin in the treatment of adolescent obesity has become relatively common, there have been no studies to support its effectiveness until now. The report on the analysis was recently published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
The analysis involved 77 non-diabetic teenagers between the ages of 13 and18 having a BMI equal to or above the 95th percentile. The subjects all participated in a lifestyle intervention program, while 39 of the study participants were treated with a daily dose of 2,000 milligrams of metformin hydrochlorideXR, and the other 38 were given a placebo. Both the metformin and the two placebos used in the study were supplied by Bristol-Myers Squibb.
After a period of 48 weeks, an increase in BMI of 0.2 was observed among members of the placebo group, while a 0.9 decrease was noted in the members of the metformin group. After an additional 48-week follow up period, the researchers found that the positive effects of the drug were sustained for 12 to 24 weeks after treatment had ended. Regarding the findings, the report authors wrote, "Metformin, in combination with lifestyle modification, had a small but statistically significant effect to reduce BMI in obese adolescents." They went on to note, "Metformin was safe and tolerated in this population. These results indicate that metformin may have an important role in the treatment of adolescent obesity. Longer-term studies will be needed to define the effects of metformin treatment on obesity-related disease risk in this population."
Over the last 50 years, childhood obesity rates in the U.S. have more than tripled, meaning that nearly one-third of all American children are either overweight or obese. These conditions put them at a greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease in adulthood. Adopting an early lifestyle intervention program that includes diet and exercise is the key to preventing the long-term consequences associated with obesity. By helping overweight adolescent children to develop healthy lifestyle habits now, parents can provide a foundation for becoming healthy adults.
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