While some people say the drug didn’t do much for them, others swear by it—even those that don’t have Type 2 diabetes, says Fatima Cody Stanford, M.D., an instructor of medicine and pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. In fact, Cody Stanford says that she often prescribes the medication to overweight or obese people who don’t have Type 2 diabetes.
Here’s what you need to know about the drug. (Hit the reset button—and burn fat like crazy with The Body Clock Diet!)
How It Works
Metformin causes a decrease in the release of glucose from a person’s liver. This helps to lower a person’s blood sugar when it’s too high and restore the way someone uses food to make energy, according to the Mayo Clinic. “Weight loss can occur because it decreases appetite in some people who take it,” says women’s health expert Jennifer Wider, M.D.
In order for the prescription to work effectively, the amount of metformin you take must be balanced against your diet and exercise because it helps level out your blood sugar, the clinic says. For that reason, if you change your diet or exercise, you doctor may need to change the amount of metformin you take.
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Can It Help You Lose Weight?
Cody Stanford says she uses the medication often in her practice among those with and without Type 2 diabetes—and it works. “While metformin is typically prescribed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, it has been shown to produce weight loss in some individuals with a low likelihood of adverse effects,” she says.
Here’s why: Regardless of whether or not the patient taking metformin has Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance, the medication can improve a person’s insulin sensitivity. That increased sensitivity to insulin can keep a person’s blood sugar level, which prevents the hunger and carb cravings that come with spikes and subsequent drops in blood sugar, Stanford explains. And with less cravings and carbs, you’re more likely to have an easier time losing weight.
The meds also decrease a person’s glucose levels, which causes a lesser likelihood that excess sugar will be stored as fat tissue in the body, she says.
Finally, the drug can improve a person’s sensitivity to leptin, a hormone that makes you feel full and might increase your metabolism, Stanford says.
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Is It Dangerous?
The medication is considered safe to use, but the Mayo Clinic notes that 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, Wider says.
The most common side effects of using metformin are nausea, loose stools, and abdominal pain, Stanford says. Obviously, it’s important to take the drug under a doctor’s care.
The Bottom Line
Metformin is a fairly popular drug prescribed by doctors, Stanford says, 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.