Obesity is associated with poorer sperm quality, which may contribute to slower fetal development and pregnancy complications, according to an Australian study. Therefore, their authors encourage obese men who plan to become fathers to lose weight.
Information on this subject is provided by the Eurek Alert website.
So far, scientists have focused mainly on the adverse effects of maternal obesity on the course of pregnancy and fetal development. The latest research by the Australian team from the University of Melbourne shows that obese men who want to become fathers should also lose weight for the benefit of future offspring.
Using in vitro fertilization techniques, researchers created mouse embryos whose fathers were either obese or weighed correctly. Male obesity was induced by following a 10-week diet that corresponded to the composition of fast food popular in Western countries. Then, it was checked whether the father’s obesity influenced the implantation of the embryos in the uterus and their further development.
It turned out that by 15 percent. fewer embryos obtained with the sperm of obese males successfully implantation in the uterus compared to those from fathers weighing normal.
In addition, male obese embryos developed more slowly. This was largely due to the fact that the placenta, the structure through which the nourishment of the fetus takes place in the womb, developed significantly less and grew smaller during pregnancy with these embryos. A smaller placenta results in poorer growth of the fetus, which has long-term consequences for the health of the offspring, explains co-author Natalie Binder.
In her opinion, these results indicate that the father’s obesity negatively affects both the process of embryo implantation in the uterus and its development.
“Our work provides information on the effects of obesity in men on their reproductive capacity and indicates that when preparing to father a child, they should lose weight,” says Binder.
Co-author of the research prof. David Gardner points out that many men do not understand their contribution to the health of their offspring and do not realize that they should take care of themselves before conceiving a child.
Obesity and overweight among men of reproductive age are becoming a growing problem in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, for example, in Australia as much as 75 percent. adult men are overweight or obese, compared to 48% worldwide. “The prevalence of obesity among men of reproductive age in Australia has more than tripled in the last three decades,” emphasizes Prof. Gardner.
The scientists will present the results of their research at the annual meeting of the Australian Endocrinology Society and the Society for Reproductive Biology, which will be held on August 26-29 in the Gold Coast. (PAP)
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