This work aimed to study the effect of obesity on the quality of life , functional capacity and the risk of carotid atherosclerotic plaque formation in Egyptian Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients and to correlate the findings with disease parameters.Sixty patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ,all fulfilling the 1997 revised criteria for the classification of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.The patients were divided into three groups based upon body mass index (BMI,weight in kg /height in m2)-BMI <25 (normal) ,BMI 25-29.99 (overweight) and BMI =30 (obese) .All patients included in this study were subjected to full history taking,clinical examination,laboratory investigations ,assessment of disease indices sa well as B mode carotid arteries ultrasonography.In the present study there is an association between an increased BMI and increased lipid profile and also with decreased quality of life in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients and those with older age and increased waist circumference are at higher risk of premature atherosclerosis.