Living donor transplants provide several advantages over deceased donor kidneys, including a shorter waiting time. Living donor grafts also appear to have a lower rate of delayed graft function and improved long-term recipient and graft survival. Most published studies of living kidney donation have supported that the donation process is relatively safe for the donor. However, these reports also emphasize concerns that comprehensive long-term data on U.S. live donor outcomes are insufficient. One concern is that current data may underestimate the true long-term morbidity and mortality of living kidney donation. Additionally, older studies might not apply to the current donor population that includes older and more obese individuals.