Metformin may help obese teen girls lose weight

By Michelle Rizzo NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The addition of the type 2 diabetes drug metformin to a lifestyle modification program may help female adolescents lose weight loss if they also make dietary changes, according to a new study. Metformin is primarily used to lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes. In the current study, researchers evaluated the effect of adding metformin versus placebo to a program of personal diet and exercise goal-setting for 85 obese adolescents with insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. Of the 85 subjects, 71 percent were female. Goal-setting alone did not lead to significant weight loss, the research team reports in the Journal of Pediatrics. However, a significant decrease in body weight was seen in girls receiving metformin but not in those receiving placebo. Sixty percent... [read full story]