AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of obesity in a non selected cohort of adult subjects living in eastern Sicily.METHODS: Out of 2 296 examined subjects, 834 (36.3%) were affected by obesity. Of these, only 160 (19.1%) were affected by obesity alone while 674 (80.9%) showed other associated pathologies.RESULTS: The prevalence of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hepatic steatosis, hyperdyslipidemia and renal failure was significantly higher (P = 0.000) than in a control group of non-obese subjects comparable for sex and age.CONCLUSIONS: In a large part of obese patients, the presence of insulin resistance was observed suggesting that this alteration can play a pivotal role in the development of some important metabolic and cardiovascular complications related to obesity.