Serum insulin responses during 100 g oral glucose tolerance test were studied at 3-4 month intervals in subjects with normal glucose tolerance. Obese people had higher insulin levels than non-obese people both at fasting and after glucose load. Insulin responses were similar between the two tests when the body weight did not change, whether the subjects were obese or non-obese. Hyperresponse of insulin in obese people decreased significantly after weight losses of 5-10 kg. Significant elevation of insulin response was observed in patients with mild pulmonary tuberculosis who gained 3.5-7.0 kg body weight, but still remained within the normal weight range. The degree of obesity dose not seem to be the sole factor causing insulin hyperresponse in these patients.
