As most of us are aware, being overweight increases our risk of numerous health problems but what most of us aren’t aware of is that being overweight reduces fertility and the chances of having a healthy baby. Studies have shown that by losing 5% of body weight, you can drastically improve the chances of pregnancy and ladies; this is not just for us! Men losing weight will also improve their fertility so if you are trying its time to kick your partner into gear.
So let us break it down for you, being overweight impacts the quality of your eggs and sperm and can reduce the chance of pregnancy. On the same token if you or your partner are underweight, this too will reduce fertility. When we are overweight it causes problems with our hormone levels, which can impact our menstrual cycle and as mentioned above, the quality of our eggs. When a male is overweight it will impact the quality of their sperm but also cause erection problems and lower libido (none of us want that!)
Ladies, we understand that our ovaries produce estrogen but what you may not know is that adipose tissue (fat cells) will also produce estrogen. When your body is at a healthy weight specific for you (try this BMI calculator to figure out your ideal weight), you will have a higher chance of conceiving as you have a normal amount of estrogen in your body but when you are overweight unfortunately the adipose tissues produce more estrogen then needed, which won’t allow regular ovulation. With men, being overweight is linked with lower testosterone and impaired sperm quality so let’s make a pact to start throwing kale at them? Yes? Sounds good.
The following journal articles 1, 2 and 3 have plenty of information on the studies showing weight loss increasing fertility levels so whenever you have a spare moment we suggest having a read through them.
Therefore, if you and your partner are trying to conceive but are facing some issues, use the above BMI calculator to establish if your weight could be playing a major factor. If so, don’t be fearful of the weight loss journey. Thinco has many products that can help you both achieve your goals in a more effective, efficient and sustainable way. We also recommend partaking in some light exercise, swapping unhealthy foods for healthier alternatives, increasing your water intake, lowering your stress and getting an adequate amount of sleep every night.