Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate BMI, self-esteem and attitude toward body shape perceived by obese adults. Method: The subjects were 129 adults selected from visitors to the obesity clinics of three university hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Results: 1) Of the subjects. 26.3% appeared normal. 2) The mean BMI was 27.38. 3) The degree of self-esteem showed above average as 29.1 on the average. 4) The degree of attitude toward body shape showed above average as 27.2 on the average. 5) There were significant differences in BMI according to educational level (F=4.102, p=.019), in self-esteem according to sex (t=2.484, p=.014), educational level (F=2.781, p=.044), and medication or not (t=2.003, p=.048) and in attitude toward body shape according to age (F=3.059, p=.019), sex(t=-5.281, p=.000), diet or not(t=-3.286, p=001), exercise or not (t=-3.286, p=.001), and medication or not(t=-3.659, p=.000). 6) There were significant correlations between BMI and attitude toward body shape (r=.353, p=.000) and between self-esteem and attitude toward body shape (r=-.310, p=.000). Conclusion: The results of his study suggest that nurses need to help their patients have correct information about obesity.