Metformin treatment increased BECLIN1 and ATG5 expression in mature adipocytes.<h4>Conclusions</h4>These observations indicate that adipocyte differentiation, glucose and insulin stimulation, pharmacological interventions and local and systemic inflammation associated with obesity differentially impact on individual autophagy markers both on a cellular and systemic level, potentially explaining the inconsistent effects in patients with obesity reported in the literature. This evidence concerns the gene ATG5 and obesity disorder.