In obese patients, 5 percent weight loss has significant health benefits

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For obese patients trying to lose weight, the greatest health benefits come from losing just 5% of their body weight, according to a new study led by Dr. Samuel Klein of Washington University School of Medicine.  Among the 19 study patients who lost 5% of their body weight, improvement was seen in the function of insulin-secreting beta cells, insulin sensitivity in fat tissue, liver and skeletal muscle tissue; decreases in total body fat and fat in the liver were also observed.

The results of their study were published Feb. 22, 2016 online in Cell Metabolism.