BAC K G R O U N D:To evaluate and compare the demographic and socioeconomic features and life styles of normal weight, overweight and obese subjects living in the city center of Bursa and investigate these features in the obese group by subgrouping according to body mass index (BMI). M ET H O D S:The study included randomly assigned 2011 subjects older than 18 years of age. A questionnaire was filled in for each participant about age, gender, occupation, educational and marital status, family history of obesity and personal history of co-morbidities, smoking, alcohol, exercise and dietary habits. R E S U LT S:Overweight ratio in men (53.5% vs 40.5%) and obese ratio in women (22.7% vs 39.3%) were higher. Female gender, educational level, family history for obesity, diastolic blood pressure and smoking were the main predictors of high BMI. In subgroup analysis, there was no difference between dietary and physical habits and comorbid disease prevalences. CO N C L U S I O N S:Since being overweight is a pre-obese, pre-diabetic and pre-hypertensive stage, every attempt should be made to increase public awareness for the prevention of gaining weight to prevent obesity and related co-morbid illnesses.