I'm sure you've heard that if men are overweight it can impact fertility... but that then prompts
a whole host of other questions, such as "is rapid weight loss bad for men's fertility"?,
"is it just body fat that impacts men's fertility, or does total weight matter?"
and "how much weight is too much when it comes to men's fertility?". Well,
in this episode of Nourish, I'm going to answer all these questions for you and more! Stay tuned!
Hello! If this is our first time connecting, welcome! My name is Melanie McGrice and I'm a fertility
and prenatal dietitian. I help couples boost their fertility and give their baby's the best
start possible with the power of good food. Make sure you connect with me on
my socials... you'll find all the details in the description box below this video.
In this video, we're going to delve into ten common
questions about men's weight loss and fertility. Let's get started!
Question 1: How much weight is too much for men's fertility? One study of over one hundred men found
that men classified as 'overweight' were one and a half more likely to have a low sperm count,
whereas men classified as 'obese' were two and a half times more likely to have a low sperm count.
So, in an ideal scenario, current research suggests that men should
aim to have a Body Mass Index of less than 25 for optimal fertility.
However, research has found that the higher a man's Body Mass Index is, the greater the impact
will be on his fertility. This is especially true for men with a Body Mass Index greater than 32.
Question 2: Is it just body fat that impacts men's fertility, or does total weight matter?
Yes, it's just too much body fat that impacts men's fertility, so if your man has a high Body
Mass Index because he's so muscular, then you have nothing to worry about!
Question 3: How does weight impact men's fertility?
Excess body fat impacts men's fertility hormones and sperm count. It also impacts
on DNA fragmentation which is the amount of damaged genetic material within sperm.
Question 4: Does men's weight impact his baby's weight?
Now this is an interesting one.
Studies show that when men are overweight or obese, their kids are also at high risk of
obesity. Excitingly, studies also show that when men optimise their weight prior to conception,
this also reduces their children's future risks of weight problems.
Question 5: Does men's weight impact his baby's health?
Yes. It's not just weight that a dad's weight impacts. A father's excess weight in the lead
up to conception has been linked to an increase in the risk of type II diabetes in children,
gut health and an increased risk of miscarriages.
Question 6: Does weight loss improve men's fertility?
Generally, yes. However, studies of men undergoing weight loss surgery
for fertility haven't yet yielded clear results, suggesting that it is unlikely to be weight alone,
but in combination with nutrition that has the most significance.
Question 7: Is rapid weight loss bad for men's fertility?
Whilst studies show that weight loss are beneficial for men's fertility,
and that includes rapid weight loss, we also know that good nutrition is vital for
optimal fertility. So, if a man is undertaking a rapid weight loss diet to optimise fertility,
ensure that it has been personally tailored to meet all of his fertility nutrition needs.
Question 8: What's the best weight loss diet for men's fertility?
It's best to get personally tailored advice to determine the best weight loss diet,
however a calorie-controlled Mediterranean diet would be a good place to start.
Question 9: Does being underweight impact men's fertility? Yes. Research shows that men with a
BMI of less than 18.5 also tend to have an increased risk of fertility complications.
This is usually due to nutritional deficiencies.
Question 10: Where's the best place to go to get more advice about men's weight loss and fertility?
I'd recommend getting personally tailored advice from a certified fertility dietitian.
Feel free to reach out to my team and we can recommend someone who will suit you.
Feel free to ask any questions in the comments box below, and make sure you
check out some of my other fertility videos on topics such as optimising
implantation and reducing the risk of miscarriage.
I'll look forward to seeing you in my next video!