Introduction: the intestinal microbiota has emerged as a crucial component for the maintenance of human health, playing fundamental roles in digestion, metabolism, immunity, the regulation of nutritional status and energy homeostasis. However, dysbiosis (alteration of the microbiota balance) can cause obesity, through inflammatory mechanisms, increased intestinal permeability and changes in appetite. Objective: determine the relationship between alterations in the intestinal microbiota and obesity in adults. Methodology: the research design is documentary, exploratory and descriptive. A systemic review of the last 5 years of the existing literature was conducted in electronic databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Science direct, Web of Science and Google academic. Inclusion and exclusion criteria will be applied. Results: although it cannot be stated that the intestinal microbiota is the direct cause of obesity in adults, there is a complex and bidirectional relationship between the two. Intestinal dysbiosis can influence the development of obesity, and this in turn can modify the intestinal microbiota. The main mechanisms are alterations in energy metabolism, inflammatory process, and appetite regulation. Conclusion: obesity is a chronic metabolic disease with multiple causative factors and the intestinal microbiota is only one of them. Alterations in the intestinal microbiota are related to obesity in adults, so they must be managed comprehensively, which includes lifestyle modification and sometimes medical treatment.