How Does My Weight Affect Fertility and Pregnancy?

Pregnant

Did you know that weight is another significant factor in your fertility?

If you are overweight or underweight, your body may be having trouble regulating its natural cycle. You need to be in the proper weight in order to produce the appropriate amount of hormones to regulate ovulation and menstruation.

In this article, we will discuss the importance of having a balanced weight for fertility, and the effects of obesity and extreme weight loss in fertility. We will also provide you some fitness tips and how to have healthy weight loss to improve your fertility.

Importance of Having Balanced Weight in Fertility

If you do not have the right weight according to your body mass index (BMI), your body can start to experience problems with fertility cycles, which will greatly impact your ability to become pregnant. Also, it is not only having the right body weight that is crucial for fertility but the amount of body fat that you have is just as important.

According to the book “Boost Your Fertility”, fat comprises about 28% of body weight in normal adult women and if it drops below 22%, ovulation could stop. Women with an average or above average body weight, or who exercise very rigorously, may have a lower body fat and a higher muscle content, which may lead to their periods become irregular or stop altogether.

These days, many women try to lose weight unnecessary. However, it’s not good and safe for your body/life.

Moreover, you should become knowledgeable about measuring your BMI. It is the ratio of your height to your weight and is calculated as follows: BMI = your weight in lbs/feet divided by the square of your height in meters. For example if your weight is 140 lbs (63.5 kg) and your height 5’5” (1.68m), your BMI would be: 63.5 ÷ 1.68² = 22.5. So, you have a BMI of 22.

If your BMI is under 20 you are considered underweight; if it is between 20 and 25 you are considered normal; between 25 and 30 is overweight; between 30 and 40 is obese and over 40 dangerously obese. The BMI is a useful tool but it can’t tell the difference between fat and muscle so it’s worth getting a reading for your fat percentage too.

Effects of Obesity and Extreme Weight Loss in Fertility

Then, let’s take a look at what would happen if you are obesity or on extreme weight loss.

Obesity

Based on the book “Pregnancy and Obesity”, research studies have shown that there are negative effects of obesity on fertility and natural conception. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of menstrual irregularities and anovulation. However, obese women with a regular ovulatory cycle still experience a lower probability of spontaneous conception.

Studies have shown that the risk of infertility increases with the degree of obesity. In other words, the greater the weight, the bigger the problem. Overweight women tend to have a higher percentage of fat on their bodies and as fat cells produce estrogen, some overweight women produce too high levels of estrogen. This can negatively influence menstruation and ovulation, making it very difficult to become pregnant.

Extreme Weight Loss

On the other hand, being underweight or having extreme weight loss is not suitable either in becoming fertile. Research studies have shown that women who are underweight are at risk of compromising their fertility cycle. They may have problems conceiving and the risk of miscarriage is higher than normal.

That’s why dieting is not recommended if you are trying for a baby. Research shows that even when healthy women were put on a diet of 1,000 calories a day their periods became irregular because progesterone and estrogen levels dropped significantly. Also, if you have eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, your hormone production is disrupted and you also have severe nutritional deficiencies that can affect fertility.

Tips and Ways to Become Fit and Have Healthy Weight

Being fit and losing weight in a healthy way can definitely help both men and women prevent such health problems as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and infertility. In this section, we are happy to provide you useful tips and ways to become fit and acquire healthy weight to improve your fertility.

  1. Drink plenty of water.
  2. Go for high-fiber whole foods.
  3. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit.
  4. Eat good quality protein with every meal.
  5. Eat good amounts of foods rich in healthy oils
  6. Always eat breakfast and stop eating after 8pm.
  7. Keep your blood sugar levels balanced by eating little and often every three hours.
  8. Avoid caffeine and sugar.
  9. Choose organic foods as possible.
  10. Reduce or eliminate your intake of red meat, saturated fat, convenience foods, refined foods, and junk foods.’
  11. If you are overweight and want to lose weight, try for a gradual weight loss of no more than 900g (1lb) a week. Snack on healthy foods throughout the day and don’t eat big meals after 8pm.
  12.  If you are underweight, consume a diet that includes plenty of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, oily fish, nuts, and seeds. Remember to wait 3-4 months before trying for a baby as it is highly likely that you may have nutritional deficiencies as a result of previous restricted food intake.

Conclusion

Therefore, be aware about your body weight and check consciously about your food diet every day. The aforementioned information will greatly help you to have the right weight and enhance your fertility.

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