Obesity and reproductive dysfunction in men and women

Tod Fullston, Linda Wu, Helena Jane Teede, Lisa Jane Moran

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (Book)Otherpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

There is a growing body of evidence that men and women that are overweight or obese are prone to reproductive dysfunction and that specific serum metabolites or hormones may indicate the severity of this dysfunction. Furthermore, being overweight or obese is inextricably linked to polycystic ovary syndrome, the most common cause of anovulatory infertility in women. Given the ever-increasing prevalence of being overweight or obesity worldwide, this predicts a somber future for human fertility, and there is also mounting evidence that the health of future generations is threatened. Animal obesity models have been useful for identifying potential underlying molecular mechanisms. Lifestyle interventions of low to moderate intensity that improve dietary intake and physical activity may act as a circuit breaker that not only promises to improve overall health but to also restore fertility. Given the increasing contribution of being overweight or obese to the burden of disease worldwide, it is evident that effective population-wide interventions are needed to reduce body weight and adiposity and improve associated obesity-related conditions including subfertility or infertility.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHandbook of Fertility
Subtitle of host publication Nutrition, Diet, Lifestyle and Reproductive Health
EditorsRonald Ross Watson
Place of PublicationSan Diego CA USA
PublisherElsevier
Pages119 - 132
Number of pages14
ISBN (Print)9780128008720
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

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