Metformin For Weight Loss: How Pharmacists can counsel patients? Metformin is a drug often given to people with type 2 diabetes to help manage their blood sugar. Studies suggest it could also aid in weight loss. This happens when people adopt healthy lifestyle changes while taking metformin.
Metformin For Weight Loss: How Pharmacists can counsel patients? iStock-photo credit: Joyimage
It might stop your body from absorbing too much sugar and fat from food as indicated by Hannah W.1. If you’re obese, using metformin, eating better, and exercising more can help you lose weight.
Pharmacists should talk to patients about what to expect from taking metformin. They should explain how much metformin to take and talk about its possible side effects. We’ll let you know everything about metformin and how pharmacists can counsel patients about its effectiveness as found by Zimmerman S., Ferguson E., Choudhary V., Ranatunga D. Metformin C., and Dementia I. 2
What is Metformin?
Metformin is a medication that helps control high blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It’s also been found to help with losing weight when combined with changes in what you eat and how active you are.
Metformin For Weight Loss: How Pharmacists can counsel patients? iStock-photo credit: Joyimage
If you take metformin, eat healthier, and move more, you might lose a bit more weight. But it’s usually not a lot. Maybe only 1 to 3 kilograms more than if you just focused on eating better and exercising more. Pharmacists might suggest metformin to patients who want help with weight management.
How Does Metformin Work for Weight Loss?
Metformin can help with weight loss in a few ways. First, it lowers how much glucose the liver makes as found by Luciana C. 3, which brings down insulin levels. Less insulin might mean less fat stored and feeling less hungry.
Metformin For Weight Loss: How Pharmacists can counsel patients? iStock photo credit: JoyImage
Metformin can affect how your body uses glucose from food in the gut. This makes it harder for your body to absorb carbohydrates. All of this reduces your appetite. This means you’ll take in fewer calories as discussed in the role of calories in weight loss: quality vs. quantity4. Over time, this can lead to gradual weight loss.
But just taking metformin by itself usually doesn’t lead to significant weight loss. To make a difference, it’s important to also eat healthier foods and move more.
Metformin’s Advantages and Disadvantages
Metformin is a medicine that is effective for type 2 diabetes and weight loss. But it has side effects, so think carefully before using it. So, let’s explore its advantages and disadvantages.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Can provide mild additional weight loss of 1-3 kg when combined with lifestyle changes. | Nausea, diarrhea, and other GI (gastrointestinal) side effects are common when first starting. |
| You only have to take this medicine once a day. | It requires consistent use for continued benefit, and weight may be regained when stopped. |
| Has a high safety profile based on decades of use in diabetes. | Does not address main lifestyle factors contributing to obesity, like diet and exercise habits |
| Generally, people can use it without problems for a long time. | It is not intended for dramatic weight loss; it only provides modest additional weight loss. |
| It helps people with diabetes control their blood sugar better. | Multiple health problems exist, including kidney dysfunction, liver disease, and heart failure. |
Evidence for Metformin and Weight Loss
Researchers have been studying metformin to see if it helps people lose weight. They’ve found some promising evidence.
Metformin For Weight Loss: How Pharmacists can counsel patients?
One important study was done in 2017 and published in a journal called “Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism.” They looked at a bunch of other studies where people who didn’t have diabetes took metformin to lose weight. What they found was that metformin did help people lose some weight, even though it wasn’t a huge amount.
Another study, published in 2012 in the “Annals of Internal Medicine,” looked at how metformin affects weight loss in people who have type 2 diabetes. They found that it also helped them lose a bit of weight, but not a lot.
Pharmacist Counseling Points on Metformin for Weight Loss
Pharmacists can help people use metformin better for losing weight and reaching their health targets by giving them personalized advice and support. Here are some things pharmacists should talk about with patients.
1. Understanding the Mechanism
Explain to patients how metformin helps your body control sugar levels and might also help you lose weight. It does this by making your body more sensitive to insulin, which lowers your appetite.
2. Setting Realistic Expectations
Emphasize them to set goals that you can achieve and keep a close eye on your progress. Checking in regularly helps you stay motivated and feel good about what you’ve accomplished. Break down big goals into smaller tasks so you can make steady progress.
3. Dosage and Administration
Educate patients on how much metformin they need to take from their doctor and why it’s important to take it regularly. Talk about any possible side effects, like an upset stomach, and how to deal with them.
4. Counseling on Diet and Exercise
Stress the importance of eating a mix of healthy foods every day, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains, while minimizing processed foods and sugary drinks.
Additionally, staying active is key! Whether it’s brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or biking, aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, most days of the week.
Moreover, advise patients to know their total daily energy expenditure by using TDEE calculator which can be found here5. This helps you understand how much energy your body needs each day. Knowing this can help you make better choices about what to eat and how to exercise.
5. Monitoring and Follow-Up
Tell patients to check how much they weigh, their blood sugar, and if they feel more or less hungry or energetic when they’re taking metformin as discussed in refeeding syndrome symptoms and warning signs 6. Set up more appointments to see how they’re doing and change their treatment if needed.
Conclusion
Metformin helps people lose weight and reach their health goals. Pharmacists give personalized advice and support to help patients use metformin correctly as part of their weight loss journey. It’s important to be realistic about what to expect, and pharmacists teach patients how to take the right amount of metformin and when to take it.
They also stress the importance of eating well and exercising regularly. Pharmacists keep an eye on patients’ progress and help them deal with any side effects. This leads to healthier outcomes for people trying to manage their weight and health.
AUTHOR BIO
I’m Douglas, a licensed pharmacist certified in Pharmacotherapy. With over 15 years of experience, I currently serve as the lead pharmacist at HealthPlus Pharmacy. I have expertise in medication management for chronic conditions and additional training in weight loss counseling. I frequently contribute to medical publications to empower patients with clear medication and health guidance.
REFERENCES
- Hannah W. Top 10 Foods to Melt Away Body Fat for Women. Toptens. https://toptens.fun/show/top-10-body-fat-melting-foods. Published October 09, 2023. Accessed October 09, 2023.
- Zimmerman S., Ferguson E., Choudhary V., Ranatunga D. Metformin C., and Dementia I. Jamanetwork. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2810994. Published October 25, 2023. Accessed January 18, 2024.
- Luciana C. SARS-CoV-2 infects the liver, stimulating glucose production and contributing to a severe form of COVID-19. https://agencia.fapesp.br/sars-cov-2-infects-liver-stimulating-glucose-production-and-contributing-to-severe-form-of-covid-19/41913. Published May 15, 2023. Accessed July 27, 2023.
- Nicolas D. The Role of Calories in Weight Loss: Quality vs. Quantity. Ineedmedic. https://ineedmedic.com/health/the-role-of-calories-in-weight-loss-quality-vs-quantity/. Published October 24, 2023. Accessed Jan 19, 2024.
- Brene B. TDEE Weight Loss Calculator. CalculatorTDEE. https://calculatortdee.com/. Published June 20, 2023. Accessed February 20, 2024.
- Refeeding Syndrome Symptoms and Warning Signs. Acute Center for Eating Disorders & Severe Malnutrition. https://www.acute.org/resource/refeeding-syndrome-signs-symptoms. Published February 25, 2021. Accessed January 17, 2023.
