Copper plays a key role in reducing body fat.

Obesity  pngkit.com

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Obesity has been a major  problem world over for a few decades and in the last decade, it is on the increase for various reasons. It involves an excessive amount of body fat,  and it is more a medical problem than a  cosmetic one; it may lead to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers.  A combination of diet, lack of exercise and environmental problem, besides inherited factors cause obesity.  There is nothing to be concerned about it and the health risks can be reduced considerably with careful diet and  regular exercise.  In addition, regular physical activities  at home and  positive mind will give added benefits.

Copper, being  a malleable, conductive metal has a wide industrial application and  is  used in cookware, electronics and plumbing. Its association in jewellery making is well-known. From metallurgical point of view copper is a versatile one. So far  unknown is the fact that in the past one decade its role  in  certain biological functions is  gaining importance.  Copper is  vital for the formation of  red blood cells, absorption of iron, development  connective tissue and sustains  the immune system.  A research study done at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and at the University of California, Berkeley, has shown that copper plays a vital  role in metabolizing fat, supporting the view that it is an essential nutrient for human physiology.  The team of researchers  from  the  Berkeley Lab's observed in their publication July print issue of Nature Chemical Biology July 2016:
"We find that copper is essential for breaking down fat cells so that they can be used for energy," said Chang (lead researcher). "It acts as a regulator. The more copper there is, the more the fat is broken down. We think it would be worthwhile to study whether a deficiency in this nutrient could be linked to obesity and obesity-related diseases." It was the first report on the role of copper  in fat metabolism.
The sources of copper in food are  many such as oysters and other shellfish, leafy greens, mushrooms, seeds, nuts and beans.  Its role in restoring a natural way to burn fat is quite indispensable.
An adult's estimated average dietary requirement for copper is about 700 micro-grams per day, according to FNBIM  - the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine. The institute estimates  only 25 percent of the U.S. population gets enough copper daily.
"Copper is not something the body can make, so we need to get it through our diet," said Chang. " Unlike the  typical American or any western country's diet  Asian diet includes many green leafy, green  vegetables rich in copper."
 Based on  a detailed study of  Wilson's disease in mice (accumulation of copper in liver)  and mechanism by which copper influences lipolysis, researchers noted   that the mice with Wilson's disease exhibited less fat-breakdown activity compared with control mice. The further study of  cell culture analyses of the link between copper and fat breakdown found  that copper binds to phosphodiesterase 3, or PDE3, an enzyme that binds to cAMP, halting cAMP's ability to facilitate the breakdown of fat.
"When copper binds phosphodiesterase, it's like a brake on a brake," said Chang. "That's why copper has a positive correlation with lipolysis."
The researchers actually found hints of the link in the field of animal husbandry. Addition research needs to be done in this  area. This study has already opened new channels in the area of obesity 
(Story Source:  Materials provided by DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. 
Journal Reference:
  Lakshmi Krishnamoorthy, Joseph A Cotruvo, Jefferson Chan, Harini Kaluarachchi, Abigael Muchenditsi, Venkata S Pendyala, Shang Jia, Allegra T Aron, Cheri M Ackerman, Mark N Vander Wal, Timothy Guan, Lukas P Smaga, Samouil)
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160606200439.html