Can lifestyle interventions improve fertility outcomes in obese women with infertility?

This study investigated if weight loss intervention (WLI) improves fertility in obese women with infertility.

They found that WLI had a slight improvement in pregnancy rate, but was also associated with miscarriage risk.

Obesity is an increasing problem worldwide. It has negative effects on general health. It is also associated with infertility. Obesity results in more fatty tissue. This leads to an increase in hormones that can affect fertility. Obesity is associated with reduced oocyte quality and embryo development. The fertility rate is also affected by obesity.

Assisted reproduction (AR) can be used to treat infertility. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most common AR procedure. Obesity has been associated with poor response to IVF. It can be more difficult to stimulate the release of eggs. The quality of the eggs is usually lower. Some studies suggest fertilization rates are also lower in obese women undergoing IVF. It is unclear if weight loss intervention (WLI) affects fertility outcomes after IVF in obese women.

This study included 8 reports of women undergoing IVF. 1175 women were included in these reports. Some patients were assigned to WLI. One WLI involved eating less. This is also called dietary intake reduction (DIR). Some patients underwent both DIR and physical activity intervention (PAI). Women in the control groups were given standard advice on weight loss. 

A 43% increase in pregnancy rates was observed with WLI. However, WLI did not significantly affect life birth rate. In 6 studies there was a 50% increase in the risk of miscarriage with WLI. 

The authors concluded that WLI slightly improved pregnancy rates, but with an associated risk of miscarriage.

The quality of some of the studies analyzed was low. This makes it difficult to draw conclusions on the data. The long-term effect of WLI on fertility outcomes is also unclear. More controlled studies are needed. 

If you have any concerns regarding infertility please consult with your physician.