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What Causes Continuous Weight Gain?

Posted on Tue, 28 Oct 2014

Question: My daughter at the age of 13 now is continuously gaining weight for more than five years and has crossed 70 kgs now. She is taking glycomet 500 mg thrice daily for last three years with understanding given that this will help control weight. Also she was detected with higher insulin then but now is under control. Want to know how long she should continue to take glycomet with not having any control on her weight and appetite as well ? Is consumption of glycomet going to be harmful in such long run?

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
metformin has no effect on body weight

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthCareMagic. Glycomet contains metformin which is the first-line drug of choice for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, in particular, in overweight and obese people. I would like to know whether your daughter has been diagnosed to have high blood sugar or insulin resistance. I would also like you to get the thyroid profile checked if not done already and to mention the reports. Studies have shown that metformin has no effect on body weight and in some cases in some cases, metformin can even cause weight gain. So unless your daughter has type 2 diabetes, metformin is not going to do any good. Metformin treatment of people at risk for type 2 diabetes may decrease their chances of developing the disease, although intensive physical exercise and dieting work significantly better for this purpose.

Hope that answers your query. Please revert back with the reports or further queries if any.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (4 days later)

Dear Dr. Diptanshu,
Thanks for the clarity; however for further review and advise i have to state that my daughter is neither diagnosed to have high blood sugar nor detected for insulin resistance. She was detected with high insulin level at the age of 8 when she was prescribed with Glycomet 500mg thrice daily which we could not administer religiously. She does not look very obese though but seem to have relatively good body frame and is already 5 feet 1 inches tall.
As advised, we have got thyroid profile and cholesterol test done. Below are values as i am unable to attach the reports directly.
Please let me know if you need to know anything more and advise further tests and or treatment.
Regards
XXXX

THYROID PANEL, SERUM
T3: 93.05 60.00 - 181.00 ng/dl
METHOD : CHEMILUMINESCENCE

T4 8.30 4.50 - 12.60 μg/dl
METHOD : CHEMILUMINESCENCE

TSH 1.92 0.35 - 5.50 μIU/mL
METHOD : CHEMILUMINESCENCE

INSULIN, SERUM
INSULIN 21.10 3.00 - 25.00 mU/L
METHOD : CHEMILUMINESCENCE

LIPID PROFILE
CHOLESTEROL 99 mg/dL L <200 DESIRABLE
TRIGLYCERIDES 132 mg/dL NORMAL TRIGLYCERIDES:<150 mg/dL.
CHOLESTEROL HDL 53
CHOLESTEROL LDL 45
VERY LOW DENSITY LIPO 26.4
LDL/HDL RATIO 0.8
CHOL/HDL RATIO 1.9

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Reports are fine

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. I have gone through the reports carefully. All of them are simply fine and you need not worry. I would insist you to withdraw from the doses of metformin and to repeat blood sugar fasting and post prandial as well as HbA1c after 3 months.

I hope that things would be fine then also.

In the mean time, I would suggest
1. Proper diet and control over it. Small but frequent meals rather than big meals.
2. Regular morning walk and exercise
3. Muscle stimulation therapy and inch loss sessions at some slimming centre

I hope that with these measures, she will be able to become healthy.

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj