Weight Loss Linked to Higher Fertility Rates, Study Suggests

According to a recent study, structured weight loss support could help overweight women conceive naturally, potentially reducing the need for IVF treatment. The research, led by associate professor Nerys Astbury, found that women in weight loss intervention groups lost an average of 4kg (9lbs) more than those in comparison groups.

Notably, the study also revealed that when the analysis was restricted to low-energy diet replacement programs, which led to greater weight loss, there was an increase in live birth rates. However, Astbury stressed that the evidence on live births was still uncertain, as many studies did not follow pregnancies through to delivery.

The findings are particularly significant as the NHS across England currently restricts access to NHS-funded IVF for women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30. Astbury suggested that policymakers should consider integrating structured weight loss support into fertility services, as this could potentially improve outcomes for patients while reducing overall costs by increasing the number of women who conceive naturally.

Lead author Dr. Moscho Michalopoulou from Oxford's Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences said the results "suggest that offering structured weight loss support could improve the chance of conceiving naturally, which may avoid the need for IVF treatment." He added that programs helping women achieve greater weight loss have the potential to help more women achieve a successful outcome and should be tested in larger, high-quality trials.