Subrideo Blog

The BBC reported today on a study which took place at the University of Aberdeen where researchers looked at the sperm of over 2000 men in couples having problems conceiving. What they found was that the heaviest men had a higher proportion of abnormal sperm, as well as other problems. It is thought that this may be due to haivng too much fat around their testicles which causes them to heat up. Being obese is already known to affect women's chances of getting pregnant, so if both parties are obese, this could have a significant impact.

Dr Ghiyath Shayeb, who led the research, said: "Our findings were quite independent of any other factors and seem to suggest that men who are trying for a baby with their partners, should first try to achieve an ideal body weight..."

On the basis that other studies have also linked obesity to DNA damage in the sperm, plus how obesity can create problems in pregnancy, it is so important for couples to achieve and maintain a healthy weight at this key time in their lives. It is also an opportunity for a new baby to grow up with parents who live a healthy lifestyle and this will break the obesity cycle which often is passed on from generation to generation.

To read the BBS article go to this link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7494777.stm