Date of Award

5-2021

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

First Advisor

Julie Solberg

Keywords

Randomized control trials; Meta-analysis; Systematic reviews; Metformin; Weight management; Childhood obesity

Abstract

One of the most challenging health conditions primary care providers face is combating the ever-rising incidence of obesity, especially among children. The objective of this literature review is to determine the effects of metformin implemented in addition to lifestyle modification for the treatment of childhood obesity. Efficacy, to include change in weight, BMI, insulin resistance, and overall safety of metformin was studied. The online databases searched in this review were PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and CINAHL. Literature chosen for review included randomized control trials, meta-analysis, and systematic reviews published between 2015 and 2020. Much of the studied research indicates positive effects of metformin for weight loss when added to a structured lifestyle modification plan, however, improvement in insulin resistance remains controversial. Safety analysis reveals metformin to be mostly well-tolerated among pediatric patients, with known gastrointestinal side effects being the most common adverse event. While some current research exhibits promising results for weight management, more research must be done to determine the most effective dose and treatment program length.

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