INTRODUCTION: Obesity is characterized by abnormal/excessive deposition of fat in adipose tissue. This might have adverse effects on metabolism resulting in increased production of cytokines and hormones by adipose tissues. The cytokines are involved in the inflammatory processes thus, having pathways similar to periodontal diseases. Thus, a relationship between obesity and periodontal diseases and potential underlying biological mechanisms needs to be established. OBJECTIVE: To investigate periodontal status and the relationship between obesity and periodontal status in patients who visited the outpatient department of Guru Nanak Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Kolkata. METHODOLOGY: A systematic random sample of 203 persons aged between 18 and 70 years were selected. All patients underwent periodontal examination and anthropometric measurements. Body mass index (BMI) was used as a measure of overall fat content. Periodontal examination included oral hygiene index (OHIS), bleeding on probing (BOP), pocket probing depth (PPD), loss of attachment (LOA) and mobility. Significant interactions with age were found and analyses were then stratified by age. RESULT: The statistical analysis showed significant increase in the prevalence of periodontitis in people with BMI> 25 and significantly lower in people with BMI< 25 CONCLUSION: Periodontal status in obese subjects was poorer than non–obese ones. A significant association between the measure of body fat and periodontal disease has been achieved.