Impact of body mass index versus physical activity and calorie intake on assisted reproduction outcomes

ObjectiveTo measure the effect of body mass index (BMI) versus calorie intake and physical activity (PA) on the outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ART).Study designA prospective study was performed on 236 infertile women who underwent in vitro fertilization. BMI, level of PA and calorie intake were assessed at study entry, and associations between these variables and ART outcomes were analyzed. Participants were divided into four groups based on BMI and PA: normal BMI/inactive, normal BMI/active, overweight/inactive and overweight/active.ResultsBMI, adjusted for age, level of PA, calorie intake and aetiology of infertility, was not associated with the number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, number of embryos, number of high-quality embryos or pregnancy rate. For women aged <36 years, the number of oocytes retrieved and the number of embryos decreased with increasing BMI, independent of calorie intake and PA. The fertilization rate, cleavage rate, number of high-quality embryos and pregnancy rate were not associated with BMI. The number of oocytes retrieved was significantly higher in women of normal weight compared with overweight women, regardless of the level of PA.ConclusionsAge has a strong negative effect on ART parameters. Increased BMI, independent of calorie intake and PA, has an adverse effect on the number of oocytes retrieved in women aged <36 years, but does not affect the number of high-quality embryos or the success of the treatment cycle.