Putting on weight can cut men's chances of fatherhood, experts warn

Obese men were more likely to have damaged sperm in a study

Piling on the pounds could cut a man's chances of fatherhood, doctors have warned.

Research shows that obese men have poorer quality sperm than their leaner friends and colleagues.

The researchers, who described the difference in quality as striking, said it showed that showed that men, as well as women, should watch their waistlines when trying to start a family.

The study, the largest of its kind, looked at the sperm of more than 5,000 men who had attended an Aberdeen fertility clinic in recent years.

It found a clear link between weight and sperm quality, with obese and underweight men being 40 per cent more likely to have damaged sperm.

The heaviest and lightest men also tended to produce less semen, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology's annual conference in Barcelona heard.

Researcher Dr Ghiyath Shayeb said the figures held even when other factors such as smoking and drinking were taken into account.

He said: 'Our findings are 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.

weight affecting sperm parameters.pdf