Most people know that being overweight or obese increases the risk of health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. But many are unaware that this can also reduce fertility and the chance of having a healthy baby.
If you are trying to get pregnant, or plan to start trying, the closer you are to a healthy weight, the greater your chance of conceiving (getting pregnant) and having a healthy baby.Besides this it is now well known that obesity is a key driver in developing hormonal imbalances such as PCOS which adversely affect fertility.
What is the science telling us?
Being an unhealthy weight can affect a woman’s fertility by causing:
- hormonal imbalances
- problems with ovulation (releasing an egg from the ovaries)
- menstrual disorders.
It can also lead to difficulties with assisted reproduction, such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), ovulation induction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Obesity is also associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common cause of low fertility or infertility.
There are many hormones that regulate inflammation and reproductive functions which get disturbed when an individual is carrying high visceral fat.
This scientific paper published in 2023 found that Obesity increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as gestational diabetes large for gestational age infants and eclampsia and a higher rate of cesarean sections.
Also, when it coming comes to conception the efficacy of IVF techniques is influenced by obesity. The more overweight is the lady, lesser is the likelihood of success with IVF.
How can managing your weight help?
Weight loss is the obvious answer to helping with all of the above issues we have discussed.
Regardless of the modality such as medication (Ozempic or Saxenda) or surgical methods (Gastric Sleeve or Bypass) that is used to achieve weight loss the key factor to understand is that one can enjoy these benefits as long the individual not only loses weight but maintains it as well.
Therein lies the power of understanding the underlying drivers for making poor food choices and engaging in unhealthy dietary and lifestyle habits. If somebody does consider going down the path of weight loss surgery it is our recommendation to avoid getting pregnant for at least 12 to 18 months after their bariatric surgery.
If you or your loved one’s are keen to know more about how how you can develop a system to lose and maintain your healthy weight, then join us for our upcoming webinar jointly organised by NIIM
‘Your Blueprint for Weight Loss Success’
Date: Wednesday 15th August, 2024
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Register your interests HERE
I am excited to share with you my new edition of Journal ‘Creating a New You’ which is available to buy now HERE
With this journal, living well has never been so simple. Written by renowned bariatric surgeon Dr Arun Dhir, this journal is an engaging guide created for people on a weight loss journey.
More than just a habit tracker, this 24-week holistic guide will help you take care of all of the aspects of your life that influence your health and happiness. This journal includes:
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A 24 week diary to log your food and exercise
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Space to track your calorie intake, sleep and active minutes.
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Inspiring and motivational tips and quotes to make losing weight easier.
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Pages to plan workouts and meals for the week ahead.
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Plenty of space to reflect on each week and add journal thoughts.
