The effects of Metformin Use on Body Mass Index: A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: Limited number of studies has compared metformin with other Oral Hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) for reducing BMI and few of the results are controversial. Perhaps, this is of clinical importance because the Nepalese population presents different dietary habits in comparison with the European population. The objective of this study was to study the comparative evaluation of metformin with other OHAs influence on Body Mass Index (BMI) in Nepalese patients with diagnosed type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)). METHODS: A prospective cross sectional database of patients treated at diabetic clinic, TUTH, was analysed. Patients (N = 115) with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and with complete BMI and HbA1c and treated with metformin and other OHAs, for at least three visits were included. Analysis of BMI and the type of oral agent was performed. Individuals were categorized as ideal weight, overweight, or obese (BMI 30 kg/m2, respectively). RESULTS: There were differences between the values of BMI at presentation, the third, the sixth and the ninth months, between the metformin-treated groups compared to other OHAs treated groups. Metformin was given to 48 patients and OHAs to other 57 patients. In the metformin group, mean BMI decreased significantly during the treatment time, from 29.93±5.7 to 28.95±5.2 (