Statistics from the World Health Organization, WHO, has officially classified over 1.2 billion people worldwide as obese.

Obesity occurs when a person has too much body fat. A research carried out noted that US, China and India are the country ranking the list of top 10 countries with the highest number of obese people, no thanks to junk foods, sedentary lifestyle and alcohol intake.

Reports from ICMR bulletin estimated that about 60-80 million couples suffer from infertility yearly, as a result of obesity.

Dr Shobha Gupta, Medical Director and IVF Specialist from Mother’s Lap IVF centre said;

“We are all aware that being obese is not healthy. It’s not a choice that one makes in life, contrary to popular belief. No one would want to suffer the problems caused by obesity. The reason for obesity can be anything from eating disorders to depression to lack of physical activities to hormonal imbalances. What is vital is to take a step with determination and be a part of the fight against obesity.”

Fertility problems caused by obesity
Increased risk of infertility
Irregular menstrual cycles
Increased risk of miscarriage
Less success with fertility treatments
Obesity increases the risks of high blood pressure and diabetes during the pregnancy.
Dr Gupta added that she sees about 25-35 patients daily out of which about 50-60% are obese. She added that women who are obese are also at a higer risk for pregnancy complications like having to do a compulsory C-section, gestational diabetes, giving birth to a very large baby and others.

READ ALSO: 4 Things You Can Do To Boost Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

In the case of hormonal imbalance, the obesity epidemic especially in teenage girls and also in men has led to increase in production of insulin, hormonal imbalance, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, heart disease, and infertility.

“Many young girls complaint about irregular periods, skin acne and abnormal hair growth on their body which appear to be caused by a high production of male hormones,” said Dr. Shweta Goswami, Gynecologist and IVF Expert from Jaypee Hospital, Noida.

“If overweight girls with PCOS can lose upto15 kg, they might resume their regular periods without medication. This would also improve their other PCOS related symptoms and also increases their chances of conceiving,” added Goswami.

Reduce your weight by following these steps:

– Go for a balanced diet and include fruits and vegetables in your diet

– Do regular physical exercise and relaxation exercise

– Drink lots of water

– Complete your 6 to 8 hours of sleep

– Reduce intake of sugary and fatty meals and drinks

– Quit smoking and drinking alcohol
Source: http://www.healthdiary365.com/2018/02/20/obesity-can-cause-infertility-in-men-and-women/

T