Table 1.

Characteristics of lean and obese women

	Lean subjects n = 6	Obese subjects n = 10
Age, years	31.5 ± 5.7	32.1 ± 2.9
BMI, kg/m2	22.6 ± 1.0 (22,5-25,3)	42.0 ± 1.4** (35,4-50,2)
Pl. Triacylglycerols, mM	1.1 ± 0.2	1.9 ± 0.3*
Pl. NEFA, mM	0.60 ± 0.20	0.99 ± 0.11**
Pl. Cholesterol, mM	4.6 ± 0.3	5.5 ± 0.3
Pl. Glucose, mM	4.4 ± 0.4	5.4 ± 0.1*
Pl. Insulin mU/L	7.0 ± 1.0	16.6 ± 2.9*
Pl. Glucagon, ng/L	ND	132 ± 12
SC fat cell volume, pL	590 ± 110	1410 ± 130**
OM Fat cell volume, pL	140 ± 50 $	670 ± 120** $

Values are given as the mean ± SEM. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01 versus lean subjects.

$ p < 0.05 versus the corresponding value of subcutaneous tissue in the same group of subjects.

ND; not defined Pl.; plasma BMI; body mass index SC; subcutaneous adipose tissue OM; omental adipose tissue NEFA; non esterified fatty acids pL; picolitre