Saudi Gazette A recent study by the National Health Institute in the United States found that obese men are most likely to suffer from infertility, twice as much as people of normal weight. The study stated that a greater body mass index directly correlates with an increased incidence in male infertility. The body mass index is an indicator that determines whether an individual's weight is healthy according to his/her height. To calculate your body mass index: divide your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters. A man with a body mass index between 20.7 and 27.8 is considered healthy and his weight is normal. If a man's body mass index is above 27.8, he is considered overweight. A man with a body mass index above 31.1 is diagnosed as obese; dietary adjustments and physical exercises should be introduced immediately to bring down the weight acceptable to ones' age and height. Dr. Ahmad Saif who specializes in male fertility problems further explained the details of this study. He said that for every 9 kg of excess weight, a man gains over his ideal weight, the risk of infertility increases by 10 percent. Apart from being over weight another important factor which interferes with a couple's ability to conceive is smoking, both by men and women. “The results clearly indicate that all men should eat right and exercise regularly. I recommend weight loss for heavy men, not just for raising their chances of having a baby, but for overall health,” said Dr. Saif. __
