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Magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have shown that intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) and liver fat (LFAT) levels vary with insulin sensitivity and obesity, which are common in the elderly. Thus, magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to investigate the hypothesis that IMCL and LFAT are increased in the elderly. IMCL and LFAT in young (aged 20–32 yr) and elderly (aged 65–74 yr) were measured fasted, and glucose, insulin, total free fatty acids levels, and free fatty acids profiles were measured during a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test. Body fat percentage was determined with dual x-ray absorptiometry. The elderly had significantly greater IMCL (0.12 ± 0.01 vs. 0.08 ± 0.01, mean ± sem; P = 0.01) and LFAT (0.28 ± 0.06 vs. 0.08 ± 0.01; P = 0.004; expressed as ratios to Intralipid standard) than the young. The elderly had increased insulin resistance as calculated by the Matsuda model compared with the young …