To identify specific stress kinase pathways that might be associated with impaired insulin signaling in the absence of obesity, and to determine the impact of lipid accumulation on these cellular signaling events, we have studied stress kinase activation in skeletal muscle biopsies from in non-obese, insulin resistant and insulin sensitive subjects with normal glucose tolerance, and quantified total and visceral fat stores, and IMCL content. This evidence concerns the gene INS and Obesity.