Weight loss can be a very difficult journey for an individual. An unwritten law of nature says that it’s very easy to gain excess weight, while it can be ten times harder to lose it and achieve a lean body. Weight loss rarely has something to do with a person’s basal metabolic rate (BMR). Without ambition and a lot of work, it’s impossible to lose weight.
But is that really the truth, or is it just how we’ve been told? Considering the huge advancements in medicine, can’t there be a miracle drug out there that can help us lose weight fast? We’ll try to find the answer to that million-dollar question, so stay tuned!
How about Metformin? What is it?
If you’ve never heard about Metformin until now, well, we don’t blame you. We’ve all been there. We’re talking about the most common medication for diabetes in the world. Its goal is to improve the management of the disease. Metformin can help in managing glucose levels in the case of patients who suffer from type 2 diabetes.
The interesting news is that, according to recent research, some people can benefit from weight loss if they take Metformin. One of the explanations is that Metformin is able to reduce the appetite of the person who’s taking it. Therefore, the patient will be less prone to eat too much, which should automatically result in some degree of weight loss. But how accurate is the research mentioned above? Let’s find out!
Is Metformin the miracle drug for weight loss?
A quarter of a century ago, in 1998, a study was done on people who were suffering from diabetes. They were given Metformin over a period of 24 weeks. Thus, they’ve experienced a maximum of 8 kg of weight loss.
While researchers were still skeptical about the results, they decided to conduct a second trial. Only that this time, it was much larger, as more than 4,000 people who suffered from type 2 diabetes were surveyed. The outcome was both shocking and delightful: the administration of the Metformin drug was associated with a weight loss of 2.4 kg. This second study lasted for four years.
Metformin is able to increase the secretion of a hormone called GLP-1, which can suppress appetite and can lead to losing weight. Metformin is also capable of increasing the sensitivity of the human body to hormones like leptin and insulin.
Metformin can even reduce visceral fat from the person’s liver and muscle tissue. That will automatically lead to weight loss. The abdominal cavity is the location of visceral fat, where the liver, stomach, and intestines also are.
If you’re wondering why doctors prescribe Metformin, here’s a quote from MedlinePlus:
Metformin is used alone or with other medications, including insulin, to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Metformin is in a class of drugs called biguanides. Metformin helps to control the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. It decreases the amount of glucose you absorb from your food and the amount of glucose made by your liver. Metformin also increases your body’s response to insulin, a natural substance that controls the amount of glucose in the blood.
Are there side effects for Metformin?
Yes, there are some possible side effects of the use of Metformin that you need to know about, although generally, it’s safe to use the drug. The side effects include diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.
Did you know that eating more protein could boost your metabolism? Digesting food can actually burn calories. Of the three macronutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, and fat, guess which one burns the most! If your response is “protein,” congrats! That’s the right answer.
