Is excess weight affecting your fertility?

Hey everyone,

If you're reading this blog, you probably already know how much your weight affects your overall health. But did you know that being overweight or obese can have a significant impact on your fertility and ability to achieve and maintain a healthy pregnancy?

Numerous studies have shown the negative impact of unhealthy weight on natural conception.    In many cases, infertility is due to the effect obesity has on ovulation (release of an egg). One study (Grodstein et. al. Epidemiology 1994) demonstrated that women with a BMI >27 had a 3.1 times relative risk of infertility.  Furthermore, even for ovulating women, they have a lower chance of conception due to obesity. Of note, having a BMI which is too low (less than 18.5) is also detrimental for fertility and overall health. 

For those of you unfamiliar with BMI, or body mass index, this is calculated using your height in metres and weight in kilograms.  A normal BMI is between 18.5-24.9.  See http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmi-m.htm to see if your BMI is in the healthy range.

Besides difficulty conceiving, being overweight or obese puts you at much higher risk during your pregnancy.  Obese pregnant women have a higher risk of many things including: high blood pressure disorders, gestational diabetes, cesarean section delivery, and bleeding after delivery to name just a few.  If these aren't enough reasons to achieve a normal body weight, do it for your child. Being overweight/obese during pregnancy gives your baby a higher risk of congenital anomalies (e.g. 80% higher risk of neural tube defects, 30% higher risk of cardiac anomalies).  Your excess weight can also predispose your baby to the development of metabolic syndrome (includes obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insulin resistance and diabetes, etc.) through something called the Fetal Programming Hypothesis.

So for all of these reasons, if you need to lose some weight, start today!  Being in a normal weight range prior to conception gives you and your baby the best possible chance for a healthy outcome.  But remember, prior to starting any exercise or nutrition plan, you should always consult your physician to determine what is safest and best for you.