Recent evidence suggests that obesity-related inflammation may play a central role in hepcidin regulation. Hepcidin is a key regulator of iron homeostasis and has now been suggested as a central mediator of iron metabolism disorders involved in the pathogenesis of anemia of chronic disease. In this review, we focus on subclinical inflammation in obesity and its effect on hepcidin levels, as the most plausible explanation for the relationship between anemia of chronic disease and obesity.( Rev Med Chile 2013; 141: 887-894).