The paper represents a review of modern foreign literature dedicated to joint replacement in patients with increased body mass index. The authors examine the epidemiology, pathogenesis features of osteoarthritis (arthrosis) in obesity. The majority of experts consider the increased body mass index an aggravating factor in the surgical treatment of large joints arthrosis. There is also the opposite point of view, confirmed by many orthopedic surgeons.The analysis of publications in foreign scientific literature regarding the risk of intraand postoperative complications after arthroplasty in obese patients yields controversial results. The authors regret availability of only a few studies on such an interesting and important topic carried out in Russia. The need for a detailed study of the issues related to treatment of patients with obesity is prompted by our time.