Today we’re going to be focusing in on weight and how being overweight or obese can affect your chances of getting pregnant.
Is it possible to be overweight or obese and become pregnant without any difficulty?
The answer is yes, it is possible.
Does being overweight or obese increase the chances of infertility?
The answer to that is yes as well.
I think the first question you need to ask yourself is…
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Are You Overweight or Obese?
The most common way to measure whether or not you’re considered overweight or obese is through the use of a body mass index or BMI.
To calculate your BMI, simply divide your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters.
I know, a bit complicated right?
To make it easier for you, use this
BMI calculator to figure out what your body mass index is.
A healthy BMI is considered to be between 18.5 and 24.9. Having a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight and a BMI over 30 is considered obese.
There’s a good chance that anyone with a body mass index (BMI) score of 30 or above will have their fertility affected, making it harder for conception to occur as opposed to that of a healthy BMI range.
How Does Being Overweight Or Obese Affect Fertility?
Being overweight causes a hormonal imbalance in the body and when that happens, it makes you less likely to ovulate, therefore making it harder for you to conceive. This is particularly true for women having their first baby. Obesity is often times associated with poly-cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a common hormonal condition that affects up to one in five women of reproductive age and a common cause of infertility.
The good news is that early diagnosis along with living a healthy lifestyle can and will help to support fertility. In addition to PCOS, being overweight or obese increases the risk of pregnancy complications and health problems for the baby.
Some of these risks include miscarriage, hypertension, gestational diabetes, infection, blood clotting, need for induction of labor, Caesarean birth, stillbirth, amongst others. Something else to consider is babies who are born to overweight or obese mothers are more likely to become obese children and adults themselves compared to those born to healthy-weight mothers.