DEAR DR. ROACH : I am a 75-year-old woman who isn’t prediabetic or diabetic. My BMI is 31.2. My doctor has prescribed a trial of metformin for weight loss as an alternative to starting Ozempic or one of the other weight-loss drugs. I have lost three pounds in a month, which is a start; exercise and healthier eating is also encouraged.

What are your thoughts on this new weight-loss tool and its possible long-term success? — J.H.

ANSWER : Metformin, a treatment for diabetes that works mostly by preventing the liver from making sugar, isn’t new and has been used to help people lose weight for at least 20 years. While it was first shown to help peoplewith prediabetes or diabetes, it is also effective at helping people with normal blood sugar lose weight. However, the effectiveness is modes

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