The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variability of subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (AT) dynamics in obese subjects with a wide range of insulin sensitivity (IS) and the correlation between these two metabolic measures IS. Ten obese (BMI 30-40 kg/m²) non-diabetic subjects with (n=6) and without (n=4) the metabolic syndrome were studied following a 12 week ²H2_O labeling period. Subcutaneous abdominal AT biopsies were collected. Deuterium incorporation into TG-glycerol and TG-palmitate were measured by gas-chromatography-mass-spectrometry for the calculation of fractional TG synthesis (f_TG) and fractional de novo lipogenesis (f_DNL). Muscle IS and insulin-mediated non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) suppression (a measure for adipose IS) indices were derived from the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The ability of subcutaneous abdominal AT to synthesize lipids varied significantly in obese subjects (f_TG range 7-28% and f_DNL range 1.1-4.6%) with significantly lower values (>35% reduction) for both parameters in obese with the metabolic syndrome. f_TG correlated positively with muscle IS (r=0.64, P=0.04) and inversely with NEFA suppression during the OGTT (r=-0.69, P=0.03). These results demonstrate a large variability in subcutaneous abdominal AT lipid turnover in obesity. Moreover, a reduced capacity for subcutaneous abdominal AT fat storage is associated with muscle and adipose tissue insulin resistance, as well as with the metabolic syndrome and, thus identifying a form of obesity at heightened risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.