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Objective: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by bacteria and risk factors. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of obesity on the severity of periodontitis using the basic periodontal examination (BPE) index. Methods: Age, gender and smoking status were collected from 258 periodontitis subjects with code 3 (shallow periodontal pocket) and 4 (deep periodontal pocket) of BPE. Periodontal status was examined using BPE criteria, detailed probing pocket depth (PPD) in sextant with BPE code 3 and full mouth PPD with BPE code 4 were recorded, plaque index and gingival index with WHO probe. Body mass index (BMI) was used to assess obesity. The relation with the severity of periodontitis was assessed using chi square and ANOVA tests. Results: Among recruited patients, 77 were normal weight, 97 were overweight and 84 were obese, and those with shallow PPD, deep PPD and with furcation numbered 121,101 and 36, respectively. The BMI levels were higher in the smoker and older patients (>45 years) than in non-smoker and younger (≤45 years) patients and the differences were statistically significant (p = 0.004, 0.035, respectively). Average BMI levels in patients with deep PPD (28.4 ± 4.9) were higher than in those with shallow PPD (26.5 ± 5.1). Patients with obesity and overweight exhibited statistically significantly higher average PPD (5.3 ± 1.1 mm, 5.2 ± 0.9 mm, respectively) than normal weight (4.7 ± 0.3 mm) patients. Obesity status and severity of periodontitis were shown to have statistically significant association (p = 0.017). Conclusions: This study suggests individuals with overweight and obesity experience more severe periodontitis than normal weight individuals in an Iraqi population.