Problem: Articular cartilage defects, which cause pain and decreased range of motion for the individual, are one of the more common orthopedic complaints addressed in the medical field today. Although several surgical procedures have been identified as possible treatment modalities for these defects, the research is unclear as to the effect of a patient's body mass index on surgical treatment outcomes for articular cartilage defects of the knee using cartilage transfer procedures such as autologous chondrocyte implantation. Methods: Twenty-six articles were gathered from the Weill Cornell Medical College library for this review. These articles looked at the outcomes of knee arthroplasty, microfracture surgery, autologous chondrocyte implantation and osteoarticular allograft transplantation based on a person's body mass index. Results: Results of this review showed that while there was no statistical difference among outcomes for knee arthroplasty based on a patient's body mass index, microfracture surgery was only deemed an appropriate treatment option for individuals with a low to normal body mass index. Additionally, autologous chondrocyte implantation and osteoarticular allograft transplantation have yet to be significantly researched in terms of predictive outcome variables but thus far, osteoarticular allograft transplantation has shown to be beneficial in the short-term whereas autologous chondrocyte implantation is more effective in the long-term. Conclusions: The relevance of body mass index to outcomes of autologous chondrocyte implantation will help surgeons select better treatment options for their patients with articular cartilage defects in the knees.