Effects of Obesity on Autophagy and mTORC1 Signalling in Skeletal Muscle

It is well known that individuals living with overweight or obesity are not able to activate skeletal muscle growth processes to the same extent as lean individuals following activities such as weightlifting (resistance exercise) or protein ingestion. However, the underlying cell signalling pathways which may be regulating these impairments are not fully understood. This study aims to understand if skeletal muscle signalling responses to resistance exercise and protein intake differ between lean individuals and those living with overweight or obesity. The investigators will recruit a cohort of lean individuals and a cohort of individuals living with overweight/obesity who will undertake a bout of single-leg resistance exercise and consume a protein-rich drink. Before and after this, muscle samples will be obtained from each leg of participants at different timepoints to understand the effects of exercise and feeding combined (exercised leg) and feeding alone (rested leg) on different cellular processes which regulate muscle growth. This will allow the investigators to understand if their are specific pathways within skeletal muscle which could be targeted in future interventions to overcome impaired protein metabolism in those living with overweight/obesity.