Obesity is a known risk factor for ovulation problems, but it also contributes to infertility in women who ovulate normally. Research shows that excess weight can reduce your chances of becoming pregnant. Obesity has a number of adverse effects on a woman or man’s fertility.
WHAT IS OBESITY?
Obesity is defined as excess adipose tissue (fat). There are several different methods for determining excess adipose (fat) tissue; the most common being the Body Mass Index (BMI) . BMI is calculated by dividing a person's body weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared.
The BMI cutoffs are:
Below 18.5 Underweight
18.5-24.9 Normal weight
24.5-29.9 Overweight
30 and greater Obese
40 and greater Morbid or extreme obesity
If BMI is above 30, capacity of conception in female decreases . According to one research,a woman with a BMI of 35 was found to be 26% less likely to achieve a spontaneous pregnancy than women who were normal weight or overweight but not obese. A woman with a BMI of 40 or more was 43% less likely to get pregnant.
HOW OBESITY AFFECTS FERTILITY?
1. Obesity affects your hormones
When your body mass index goes past the overweight category (BMI of 25–29.9) into the obese category (BMI of 30 and above), hormonal changes may occur in your body. When your levels of natural hormones change, your chances of conception decrease.
2. Obesity leads to insulin resistance
The hormonal imbalance that comes with obesity often leads to insulin resistance. That is a major risk factor on the road to diabetes - but it also affects your fertility and can create abnormal menstrual cycles. Insulin resistance can lead to anovulation, in which your body does not produce eggs properly.
3. Obesity affects natural and assisted pregnancies
This story is from the October - December 2018 edition of He & She.
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This story is from the October - December 2018 edition of He & She.
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