OBJECTIVES: High body mass index (BMI) has been associated with 5.47% of global Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). High income countries tend to concentrate this burden (11.35% of total DALYs in USA) but even middle income countries like Colombia have above average overweight-associated DALYs (7.1%). Obesity represents the highest end of the spectrum in this disorder Burden of disease methodology allows the estimation of the impact of diseases on a population using a single and comparable measure: DALY. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the burden of obesity in Colombia. METHODS: Burden of disease was evaluated according to the WHO guidelines. A literature review was conducted in electronic databases (SCIELO, BVS, LILACS, MEDLINE) to search data on incidence, prevalence, complications and/or DALYs. Official sources (MoH, DANE) and international databases (IHME, GBD) were reviewed for epidemiological information regarding obesity and its main consequences. DALYs estimation used the methodology proposed in GBD 2010. RESULTS: Main diseases associated with obesity as a risk factor were type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, cancer and depression. We estimated the relative risk (RR) of developing these conditions by each BMI 1-unit increment. For example, 30-44 years-old population’s RR was 1.36 for DM2, 1.04 for osteoarthritis, 1.10 for endometrial cancer, and 0.89 for cardiovascular diseases (reducing 1 BMI unit). Comorbidities that generate more DALYs were: hypertension, back pain, DM2 and cardiovascular disease. Total burden in DALYs was 1 772 522; 36.4 DALYs per 1000 population (30.4 for males and 42.2 for females). CONCLUSIONS: Study shows the high burden of obesity in Colombia. Many non-pharmacological, pharmacological or surgical alternatives, ranging from public health policies to bariatric surgery, are available for obesity treatment. Cultural and system-level barriers, however, may limit interventions.