Gastric banding, metformin equally effective at stabilizing type 2 diabetes
Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Metformin, a longtime and low-cost drug, was as effective as gastric banding at stabilizing type 2 diabetes, though surgery is more effective for weight loss, according to a new study. While gastric banding is aimed at reducing weight, metformin is designed for treatment of type 2 diabetes. It has been found, however, to also help reduce weight in patients -- though somewhat inconsistently -- marking an additional use for the drug. Researchers involved with the BetaFat study, at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles and Kaiser Permanente Southern California, found both methods could be effective for patients, depending on the particular patient. The clinical study enrolled 88 participants aged 21 to 65 years old with mild to moderate obesity and prediabetes or...