Background: The prevalence and severity of obesity and associated co-morbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary heart diseases, and hypertension are rapidly increasing across the world. Curcuma longa is one of the natural plant products that has many biological activities. Also, regular physical activity is a protective wall against occurrence of many diseases. Objective:  Determination of the effects of curcuma longa (turmeric) extract or physical activity on certain metabolic aspects in obese adult male albino rats.  Materials and Methods: Forty male albino rats were used in this study, and divided into four equal groups:Group I: served as a normal control non-obese group,group II: control obese group not exposed neither to turmeric extract nor physical activity,group III: obese group exposed to physical activity,and group IV: obese group exposed to turmeric extract.At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected for measuring blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), C-peptide, total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein–cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein–cholesterol (HDL-C). Results: High fat diet-induced obesity was associated with significant higher levels of blood glucose, HbA1c, C-peptide, cholesterol, TG and LDL-C, and with significant lower levels of HDL-C levels as compared with the control normal group. Administration of curcuma longa extract or physical activity in obese rats caused significant lower levels of blood glucose, C-peptide, cholesterol, TG, and LDL-C, significant higher level  of HDL-C and insignificant changes in HbA1c  as compared with the control obese group. On the other hand, administrated curcuma longa extract produced insignificant changes in blood glucose, HbA1c, C-peptide and cholesterol levels as compared to group of rats undergo physical activity, while changes in TG, LDL-C and HDL-C in both groups were significant. Conclusion: Curcuma longa extract or physical activity showed promise results for treatment of obesity and problems associated with obesity such as insulin resistance and type II diabetes by decreasing body weight, blood glucose, improvement of insulin receptors, lipid profile and dyslipidemia associated with obesity. However, physical activity showed more improvement in glycemic control and lipid profile than curcuma longa extract.