A more thorough understanding of the complex etiology of adult obesity is required to optimize obesity prevention and treatment. A PubMed search using the terms 'child maltreatment' and 'adult obesity' was undertaken for English-language articles published between 2001 and 2006. Ten retrospective cohort studies were identified that examined the correlation between child maltreatment and adult obesity. The current evidence lends moderate support to associations between self-reported child maltreatment and adult obesity. Prospective studies and consensus about the definition of child maltreatment are indicated for future studies.