Metformin in Children With Motor Deficit

Metformin in Children With Motor Deficit

Obesity with insulin resistance in the paediatric population provides an increasing challenge. Children with neurological or neuromuscular diseases are even more prone to obesity: their locomotor impairment leads to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, a decrease in physical fitness and an increase in body fat (1-3). Obesity, in turn, can be associated with a decrease in physical fitness and a further increase in body fat. In this study we want to evaluate the effect of an insulin-sensitizer, metformin, in a group of overweight/obese patients with neurological or neuromuscular diseases. Metformin is a well-established insulin sensitizer.

Obesity with insulin resistance in the paediatric population provides an increasing challenge. Children with neurological or neuromuscular diseases are even more prone to obesity: their locomotor impairment leads to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, a decrease in physical fitness and an increase in body fat (1-3). Obesity, in turn, can be associated with a decrease in physical fitness and a further increase in body fat. In this study we want to evaluate the effect of an insulin-sensitizer, metformin, in a group of overweight/obese patients with neurological or neuromuscular diseases. Metformin is a well-established insulin sensitizer.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with neurogenic or myogenic motor deficit, clinically obese or who had excessively gained weight over the last year.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exclusion criteria were known type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus and contraindications to metformin therapy.