Weight loss, by itself, is not enough to boost male fertility, according to a new Australian study.
University of Adelaide researchers have analysed 32 global studies involving men with obesity, between the ages of 18 and 50, who were undergoing weight loss interventions, such as bariatric surgery, weight loss medications or diet and exercise programs.
Dr Andrew Peel said it was determined that how men lost weight could affect their chances of having a baby, with healthy lifestyle behaviours seemingly more beneficial for improving fertility than weight loss itself.
“Obesity is a modifiable cause of male infertility. Preconception guidelines often talk about maintaining a healthy weight, but there is very little information available on which weight loss method is best for men for infertility,” Dr Peel said.
“This study was the first comprehensive analysis to look at the reproductive effect of multiple obesity interventions on sperm in men, and whether the amount of weight lost makes a difference.”
He said the review showed men who underwent bariatric surgery lost substantial weight quickly, but didn’t experience any notable, positive changes to sperm parameters such as volume, concentration, motility and DNA damage.
Dr Peel said there was also some evidence to suggest that surgery could have short-term detrimental effects on reproduction, possibly due to nutritional deficiencies or increased exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which was a side-effect of rapid weight loss.
He said, in contrast, studies examining lifestyle interventions that focused on improving diet and exercise did result in improvements to sperm quality, even with modest weight loss.
“Lifestyle changes are associated with modest improvements in sperm motility and morphology, even though the amount of weight lost was much smaller than surgical options.”
Read the full study: The effect of obesity interventions on male fertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
