Narrative Review of Obesity and Fertility Outcomes

Alberta Jeanne N.

 

School of Applied Health Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Obesity has become one of the most significant public health challenges of the 21st century and is increasingly recognized as a major determinant of reproductive health. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the effects of obesity on both female and male fertility, highlighting the complex physiological, metabolic, and endocrine pathways through which excess adiposity impairs reproductive outcomes. In women, obesity disrupts the hypothalamic–pituitary gonadal axis, contributes to anovulation, prolongs time to pregnancy, increases miscarriage risk, and reduces the success of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). In men, obesity is associated with compromised semen parameters, hormonal imbalance, delayed conception, and potential adverse effects on embryonic development. Central adiposity, metabolic syndrome, and obesity-mediated comorbidities further contribute to subfertility in both sexes. Pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, preterm birth, and cesarean delivery, occur in a dose-dependent relationship with rising maternal BMI. The review also evaluates current interventions, including lifestyle modification, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery, and explores their respective impacts on fertility outcomes. Despite growing evidence, significant methodological limitations and heterogeneity in definitions of obesity and fertility hinder comparability across studies. Strengthening standardized measures, improving long-term population studies, and enhancing integrated clinical and public health strategies are essential for reducing obesity-related reproductive burdens. Overall, obesity substantially influences reproductive physiology and outcomes, underscoring the need for early preventive care and targeted interventions in reproductive-age populations.

Keywords: Obesity and Fertility, Reproductive Health, Anovulation and Time to Pregnancy, Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), and Metabolic Syndrome and Reproductive Outcomes.

CITE AS: Alberta Jeanne N. (2026). Narrative Review of Obesity and Fertility Outcomes. IDOSR JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 11(1):46-51. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJSR/2026/11.1.4651