ERR alpha (NR3B1) is an orphan nuclear receptor believed to be involved in energy metabolism and obesity. A 23-base pair sequence in the 5'-flanking region of the ERR alpha gene, referred to as ESRRA23, is polymorphic in human chromosomes. Here, we investigated the influence of the ESRRA23 polymorphism on obesity in 703 Japanese individuals by analyzing indices of obesity and related lifestyle factors. The frequency of genotypes was similar to that reported in whites. The 2.3-genotype was associated with a significantly higher BMI than was the 2.2-genotype. An increased number of ESRRA23 repeats may be a genetic factor in human obesity.