**1. Introduction**

In recent time, obesity is considered one of the most critical public health concerns due to its severe physiological and economic implications. The scourge was once considered a problem only in the developed nations [1]. Contrarily, it has been reported that people living in low income countries with less affluence are not spared. In this case, the obesity could be associated with stress, alcoholism and poor nutrition due to poverty in developing countries, with its prevalence rising with age in both childhood and adulthood, regardless of gender [2, 3]. Few decades ago, obesity prevalence in Western and Westernizing countries was more than doubled, the cause of which could be attributed to over-nutrition [4]. What then is obesity? Obesity is described as the accumulation of adipose tissue to excess and to an extent that impairs both physical and psychosocial health and well-being [3]. More so, obesity presents a specific concerns and challenges for the reproductive

health of men and women, affecting fertility, reproduction, pregnancy and the resulting child's long-term health [4]. An epidemiological study by the world health organization (WHO) revealed that approximately 2 billion adults are overweight [5].

Palm trees (*Elaeis guineensis*) are native to Africa and other countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia [6]. They bear the palm fruits from which red palm oil, RPO is extracted. Despite its usefulness as an essential oil for cooking, there have been insufficient evidence and inconsistent reports on the effect of RPO in human health and wellness. The aim of this review article, therefore, is to provide an overview of the use of red palm oil in the amelioration of the negative health effects of obesity and male infertility.
