Metformin in Obese Children and Adolescents: The MOCA Trial

JCEM: November 21, 2012

Childhood obesity is increasingly associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Metformin reduces the risk for T2D in adult obese nondiabetic patients, but the evidence in obese children and young people is inconclusive.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the effect of metformin on body mass index SD score (BMI-SDS), metabolic risk factors, and adipokines.

Design: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: The study was conducted at six pediatric endocrine centers in the United Kingdom.

Participants: One hundred fifty-one obese children and young people with hyperinsulinemia and/or impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance (metformin: 74, placebo: 77). The study was comprised of 67.5% females, 65.6% postpubertal individuals, and 23.8% British Asian or Afro-Caribbean participants. The age range was 8–18 yr, the mean age was 13.7 (SD 2.3) yr, and the mean BMI-SDS was +3.4 (SD 0.5). Read more