Abstract
Obesity is on the on hand associated with classical risk factors for the development of chronic heart failure. On the other hand according to large scale epidemiologic trials a remarkable portion of the prevalence of chronic heart failure must be attributed to obesity alone. Explanations for the obesity associated heart failure have been given on pathophysiologic and molecular level. The central therapeutic approach to treat obesity related diseases is weight reduction. However, referring to large retrospective studies investigating the obesity paradox in chronic heart failure patients, existing overweight and obesity seem to be beneficial.