Adipose tissue glycogen accumulation is associated with obesity-linked inflammation in humans

•Hypoxia redirects extracellular glucose to glycogen synthesis in human adipocytes.•Glycogen modifies the endocrine function of adipocytes and induces insulin resistance.•Glycogen stimulates leptin secretion through an autophagy-dependent mechanism.•Enforced glycogen accumulation in macrophages promotes M1 polarization.•Obesity is associated with higher GS expression and glycogen stores in adipose tissue.