Fat guys can be less fertile

Obesity Promotes Infertility

Infertility has become a more serious problem in America during the past two decades. This has coincided with a rapid increase in obesity rates. Currently, 66 percent of Americans are overweight or obese, and there is no end in sight to the obesity epidemic. Obese men have an increased risk of infertility due to lower blood levels of testosterone, free testosterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone. Obesity also interferes with female hormones, which promotes infertility in women, too.

A European Science Foundation report showed that obese men produce less testosterone and have a 20 percent lower sperm count than normal-weight men. For many obese men, in vitro fertilization may be their best chance of having children because the old tried-and-true method might not work for them. (New York Post, November 28, 2010)