Foods to Eat When Taking Metformin for Weight Loss
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The Best Foods to Eat When Taking Metformin for Weight Loss

Metformin can be prescribed off-label for weight loss, but its use must be paired with a healthy diet to achieve desired results.

The Best Foods to Eat When Taking Metformin for Weight Loss
Everyday Health
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Updated on September 25, 2025
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Metformin is a common medication used by people with type 2 diabetes, and healthcare providers often prescribe it off-label to support weight loss in people with prediabetes, overweight, and obesity, among other health concerns, according to the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine and Harvard Health Publishing. While there’s no set diet to follow when you take metformin, it’s important to prioritize nutrient-dense, whole foods to manage your blood sugar successfully. Work with your doctor or registered dietitian nutritionist to create an eating plan that best suits your specific needs.

How Metformin Works

Metformin falls into a class of drugs referred to as biguanides, medications that help decrease the amount of glucose your liver produces, the Cleveland Clinic notes. Metformin also decreases the amount of glucose your body absorbs from the food you eat and improves your body’s response to insulin, according to MedlinePlus. Despite these positive effects on blood glucose regulation, it’s important to pair metformin use with a healthy diet and regular physical activity for best results.

What to Eat When Taking Metformin for Weight Loss

Although there isn’t a specific diet recommended for people taking metformin, prioritizing a balance of nutrient-dense, whole foods is essential to supporting weight loss goals alongside the use of this medication, as well as staving off a host of chronic health conditions, according to StatPearls.

During digestion and metabolism, certain types of foods, namely carbohydrate-containing foods, per StatPearls, get broken down into glucose, which your body then uses to supply your cells with energy. If you have more glucose than your cells need, your body stores it in your liver or muscles for later use or turns it into fat.

According to MedlinePlus, healthy carbohydrate-containing foods include:

  • Beans, peas, and lentils
  • Breads, starches, grains, and cereals
  • Fruit
  • Milk and yogurt
  • Starchy vegetables such as potatoes, peas, and corn

You don’t need to omit carbohydrates from your diet, but it’s important to pay attention to portion sizes and opt for healthy sources of carbohydrates like those listed above while avoiding processed foods with added sugar, sodium, and fat. This approach to carbohydrates is a core component of a diabetes-friendly diet as well, the Mayo Clinic notes.

Striking a balance of these healthier carbohydrate sources with lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables, healthy fats, and plenty of water is also key to meeting your nutritional needs, according to the American Diabetes Association, along with supporting weight loss efforts while taking metformin. Consult a registered dietitian nutritionist for help determining the best mealtimes for you, as well as daily calorie goals to portion foods in a way that promotes healthy and sustainable weight loss while also keeping your blood sugar in range.

Potential Side Effects of Metformin

Like many prescription medications, metformin may cause uncomfortable side effects that make adhering to an eating plan challenging, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These include:

  • Bloating
  • Diarrhea
  • Increased gas
  • Metallic taste in the mouth
  • Nausea
  • Stomach pain

These symptoms tend to be more common in people who are just starting out on the medication. If you’re experiencing gastrointestinal issues, take your medication with food as directed. If symptoms persist, ask your doctor about a lower dose or an extended-release version of metformin.

People who take metformin for several years may also be at increased risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, according to a study published in July 2021. Though rare, more serious side effects such as lactic acidosis can occur with metformin use as well, StatPearls reports.

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Elise M. Brett, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Elise M Brett, MD, is a board-certified adult endocrinologist. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and her MD degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She completed her residency training in internal medicine and fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at The Mount Sinai Hospital. She has been in private practice in Manhattan since 1999.

Dr. Brett practices general endocrinology and diabetes and has additional certification in neck ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration biopsy, which she performs regularly in the office. She is voluntary faculty and associate clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is a former member of the board of directors of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology. She has lectured nationally and published book chapters and peer reviewed articles on various topics, including thyroid cancer, neck ultrasound, parathyroid disease, obesity, diabetes, and nutrition support.
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Jill Corleone, RDN, LD

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Jill Corleone is a registered dietitian and health coach who has been writing and lecturing on diet and health for more than 15 years. Her work has been featured on the Huffington Post, Diabetes Self-Management and in the book "Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation," edited by John R. Bach, M.D. Corleone holds a Bachelor of Science in nutrition.

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