Overweight boys at higher risk for adult infertility: Study
Breccan F. Thies
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Overweight boys are at higher risk for infertility in adulthood, according to a study in the European Journal of Endocrinology.
Children and adolescents who are overweight or obese were found to have lower testicular volume, something associated with lower sperm production.
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The study looked at testicular volume, body mass index, insulin resistance, and age in boys aged 2 to 18 years old. Researchers found that boys with normal weight had 1.5 times higher testicular volume than their overweight peers, and those with normal insulin levels had 1.5 to 2 times higher testicular volume.
The authors of the study believe their findings indicate early weight loss could help adults avoid fertility issues when they are ready to have children.
“We found that being overweight or obese was associated with a lower peri-pubertal testicular volume,” primary author Rossella Cannarella said. “In addition, obesity-related comorbidities, such as hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, have been found to influence testicular volume in pre- and post-puberty.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity is prevalent among nearly 20% of American children, or about 14.7 million children and adolescents.
When broken down by age group, nearly 13% of toddlers ages two to five have obesity issues, as well as nearly 21% of 6- to 11-year-olds and more than 22% of 12- to 19-year-olds.
According to the National Institutes of Health, infertility affects around 15% of all couples in the United States and about 180 million worldwide. Men are the sole contributor to infertility issues in about 20% of cases and are a contributing factor in 30% to 40%.
While causes of male infertility can vary, the vast majority, around 65% to 80%, are “primary testicular defects … which include abnormal sperm parameters without any identifiable cause,” but the NIH notes that there are significant data collection and reporting issues.
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The new study comes as male fertility has plummeted worldwide and conversations about preventive medical care, like focusing on nutrition and exercise, have become more prominent in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which highlighted comorbidities like obesity.
Some states, like Florida, are focused on expanding preventive care awareness. The Sunshine State’s surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, launched the “Healthier You” initiative which is focused on public health education and promotes things like healthy cooking and eating, exercise, and vitamin D intake.