In the developed world, we constantly hear about an obesity \u2018epidemic\u2019, often linked to an abundance of fast and processed foods and unhealthily sedentary lifestyles. At the same time, there are loud alarm bells ringing about a general decline in fertility, often thought about in terms of declining sperm quality in men, but in fact applying equally to men and women. Could these two contemporary trends be linked?<\/p>\n
In a nutshell, yes, but it is not a completely straightforward equation, and the ways in which weight and infertility <\/strong>are connected are not always the same. Even being very underweight, or having a very low proportion of body fat, can also bring a higher risk of infertility. Let\u2019s take a more detailed look at the evidence for a link between obesity and infertility<\/strong> and the specific causes of the association. We will also consider what can be done to mitigate the negative impact, both from a general health and an improved fertility point of view.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Given that both obesity and infertility<\/strong> are on the rise in the Western world, we cannot simply assume that they have a causal connection. However, there have been many medically and statistically robust research projects into the link, and there is no longer any room for doubt that the two are directly connected.<\/p>\n A study carried out in Amsterdam’s Academic Medical Center and published in the Human Reproduction<\/a> journal found that even among women who were ovulating normally, those who were overweight were clearly less likely to conceive than women of normal weight. This reduction in fertility ranged from 10% in women with a BMI of 30 or more to 26% with a BMI of 35, to 43% for those with a BMI of 40 or more. Bear in mind that the study related only to women who were ovulating regularly, and this is not the case for many overweight women.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In some cases, being overweight can bring more direct and obvious risks to fertility such as anovulation.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t despair if losing a significant amount of weight feels like a mountain to climb. If you were to lose 10% of your current bodyweight it could well improve your fertility, even if you are still in the overweight category. It\u2019s definitely not a good idea to go on a drastic diet, but small changes in lifestyle, like choosing a piece of fruit over a sugar-laden pastry for a snack, can have a big impact over time. For more about healthy eating, both when trying to conceive and while pregnant, see our blog article about how to deal with being overweight<\/a>.<\/p>\n Since the link between weight and infertility<\/strong> is quite complex, you can\u2019t assume that your issue arises solely from weight. For example, some hormonal problems bring both weight gain and decreasing fertility through preventing ovulation. It\u2019s therefore always worthwhile to have a thorough check up of your fertility status and look into whether or not there could be other underlying causes of any problems. You can find out more about the causes of infertility<\/a> on our website or just go ahead and make your first visit to IVI<\/a>; it could be a weight off your mind!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the developed world, we constantly hear about an obesity \u2018epidemic\u2019, often linked to an abundance of fast and processed foods and unhealthily sedentary lifestyles. At the same time, there are loud alarm bells ringing about a general decline in fertility, often thought about in terms of declining sperm quality in men, but in fact applying equally to men and women. Could these two contemporary trends be linked?","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":52176,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15,18],"tags":[206,205],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is the evidence for linking weight and infertility?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Why does being overweight carry an increased risk of infertility?<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
\u00a0<\/h2>\n
What should I do if I am overweight and have fertility problems?<\/span><\/h2>\n
\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Healthy living and weight management<\/h3>\n
Looking for help and advice<\/h4>\n