Obesity is recognised as a condition of low-grade chronic inflammation resulting from macrophage infiltration of adipose tissue and activation of inflammatory pathways by oxidative stress mechanisms that lead to the development of insulin resistance. Various natural bioactive compounds (NBCs) with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects may im-prove adipocyte dysfunction associated with metabolic syndrome. The present review focuses on the effects of phenolic compounds, n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) and lipoic acid (LA) on the pathophysiological mechanisms of obesity. In this review, a total of 120 studies were included, and data thus obtained reflect beneficial physiological effects of n-3 LC-PUFA, LA and different phenolic compounds, including kaempferol, luteolin, apigenin, quercetin, resveratrol, curcumin, catechins, phenolic acids, in the prevention and/or attenuation of metabolic disturbances associated with obesity. Additionally, information from clinical studies provides new insights for defining the dose-response relationship of dietary compounds, necessary time of exposure and potential side effects of these NBCs in the treatment of obesity and indicates further study is needed to verify these relationships.