Introduction: Weight excess rates have had an alarming growth among adolescents. Of complex and multifactor origins, weight excess is influenced by genetic and contextual factors. Objective: To assess individual factors related to weight excess among adolescents in a large urban center. Methods: A cross-sectional study with data from a populationbased household survey conducted in two districts of Belo Horizonte, between 2008 and 2009. Data were collected through confidential self-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. The final sample consisted of 1,030 adolescents aged 11-17 years. We evaluated excess weight, as defined by body mass index, and its association with sociodemographic variables, habits and lifestyles, body satisfaction and self-rated health. Descriptive analysis of the data, including frequency distributions and differences between proportions and means with the Pearson chi-square test were conducted. Results: 21.9% of adolescents were overweight, with a higher prevalence among females (54.2%, p <0.05). The following aspects were significantly associated with weight excess: not eating breakfast, body dissatisfaction and worse self-rated health status. Males were more active compared to females, however without significant differences in nutritional status classifications. Conclusion: This study reinforces the multifactor aspects of excess weight in adolescents and the importance of investing in preventive measures of obesity in this age group.