Obesity is a public health issue with growing prevalence worldwide, which leads to morbi-mortality and has given rise to its recognition as an independent nosological entity. Colombia reports a prevalence of obese adults of 51.2% in 2010. Several elements influence the epidemiology of overweight and obesity including genetic, ethnic, metabolic, environmental, political, and social aspects, amongst many others. The association of obesity with multiple pathologies is more evident as time goes by, not only because it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, but because it also causes pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and osteoarticular disorders. To date, body mass index is the parameter used to determine and classify overweight and obesity. Alternative measurements, such as waist circumference, have been proposed as independent predictors of morbility. Considering the high prevalence of obesity and the poor precision of the classification methods to estimate cardiovascular risk, it is an important clinical decision to identify the patient who is candidate for treatment. The therapeutic approach in obese patients should focus on correcting the modifiable risk factors, and is fundamentally based on making changes in life style, which may be complemented with medication and surgery in certain patients. However, only multidisciplinary prevention will effectively avert obesity from becoming pandemic.