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What science says

What does science say about Metformin and Obesity?

  • We don’t say yes or no. We show what has been studied.
  • Working in a lab or in animals does not mean it works in people.
  • Don’t stop or change your treatment without talking to your doctor.

What has been studied

  1. Lab studies (cells)Tests on cells in a dish.Source: PubMed · as of 9 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed41studies
  2. Animal studiesTests in mice, rats or other animals.Source: PubMed · as of 9 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed409studies
  3. Studies in peoplePublished studies with human participants.Source: PubMed · as of 9 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed1041studies
  4. Registered trials in peopleTrials entered in a public registry, whatever their result.ClinicalTrials.gov: 52 · as of 9 Nov 2026 · Open the search at ClinicalTrials.govEU CTIS: 1 · as of 9 Nov 2026 · Open the search at EU CTISBy phase:No phase (16)Phase 4 (11)Phase 3 (7)Phase 2 (7)Phase 1 (7)Phase 2/3 (3)Phase 1/2 (1)Early Phase 1 (1)By status:Completed (24)Recruiting (15)Running, not recruiting (6)Not yet recruiting (6)Withdrawn before start (1)Stopped early (1)Countries (16):China (12)United States (12)Egypt (6)Canada (4)Pakistan (4)Australia (2)Iraq (2)Mexico (2)Bangladesh (1)Spain (1)Hong Kong (1)Italy (1)Lebanon (1)Nigeria (1)Oman (1)Sweden (1)With a linked publication (results): 7 of 53The registries do not tell us here whether results were posted; a linked publication is shown instead.53trials
  5. Approved treatmentApproved by a medicines regulator for this disease.No

Source: PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, EU CTIS · as of 9 Nov 2026

Examples of what we found

The trials

Thinking of paying for it? Read this first

  • Ask for published results. Stories, thank-you letters and "patients report" are not results. Ask where the results were published.
  • Know what you pay for. Ask in writing: what exactly is included, who gets the money, and what happens if you stop.
  • Ask your own doctor first. Some products interfere with chemotherapy, radiation or other medicines. Your treating doctor can check this.
  • Do not stop standard treatment for it. Do not stop or delay your treatment without talking to your care team.

Before you pay for a treatment

Other treatments people ask about

Not medical advice. Talk to the care team before changing treatment.

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Under construction, not live – What does science say about Metformin and Obesity? – Frontlight Research