Effectiveness of weight loss strategies to improve fertility in couples seeking treatments: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence

Women who were on calorie restricted diet and exercised regularly during fertility treatments, are 59% more likely to become pregnant as compared to controls, says the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in November-December issue of Journal of Human Reproduction Update. The intervention also resulted in weight loss and improvement in ovulation rates.

However, the weight loss treatment didn’t bring down the rates of miscarriages.

According to WHO, “The number of obese adults increased from 100 million in 1975 (69 million women, 31 million men) to 671 million in 2016 (390 million women, 281 million men). Another 1.3 billion adults were overweight, but fell below the threshold for obesity.”

Male obesity also plays a part in reducing the fertility in couples. A study published in Nature also reported that couples with male’s BMI over 28 kg/m² exhibited a significantly lower fertilization rate, good-quality embryo rate and clinical pregnancy rate compared to their normal BMI counterparts.

A search of different databases, revealed about 40 studies over a period of 50 years, of which 14 were randomized control trials.

All the couples who were unable to conceive and have made a change in lifestyle with diet and exercises with the intention of conception were included in the study. Couple were excluded if they were not trying to achieve pregnancy. 

  

Two researchers independently extracted data and the study qualities were assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomized trials, and a ratified checklist (ReBIP) for non-randomized studies.

Women who were eating a healthy calorie counting diet and exercising regularly were more likely to achieve pregnancy [risk ratio 1.59, 95% CI (1.01, 2.50)]. These women also showed an improvement in ovulation rates and lost weight through the program.

There was a paucity of weight loss interventions studies for men and couples together. Also, very few studies focused on barriers to weight loss.

Hence, a life style intervention of reducing fat and refined carbohydrates along with aerobic exercise should be the basis of programs designed for such couples.

Abstract

Media courtesy: http://www.medicalartcenter.com