Obesity hurts odds of getting pregnant

EAST LANSING, Mich., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Obese women are less likely to become pregnant and if they do get pregnant, they have a higher risk of problems, U.S. researchers found.

Barbara Luke of the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine examined data on nearly 50,000 women using assisted reproductive technology.

Luke's findings, which also can be applied to women not using assisted technology, showed women who are overweight are 14 percent less likely to have a successful pregnancy. That increases to 28 percent among obese women.

"The results are not surprising. Obesity is a state of inflammation and is not a good environment for conception or fetal development," Luke said in a statement. "The key message is to lose weight, prior to conception, and focus on pre-conception health issues.

Luke was awarded the Scientific Program Prize Paper for her presentation on maternal obesity research at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine international meeting in Atlanta.

The study also found for obese women who were able to become pregnant, the odds of stillbirth were increased more than twofold, Luke said.

"If you are thinking about starting a family, get into the best physical shape possible," Luke said. "Control the factors you can -- such as drinking alcohol and smoking -- and remember, body weight is just as important."