Being Overweight can Increase the Risk of Certain Female Reproductive Disorders

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing female reproductive disorders, but the role and mechanisms of obesity in the development of reproductive disorders are unclear. A study published in PLOS Medicine by Samvida Venkatesh of the University of Oxford, UK, and colleagues suggests a causal link between obesity and a range of female reproductive disorders, although the extent of this link varies depending on the disorder.

How Being Overweight Contributes to Reproductive Disorders in Women

Female reproductive disorders are common conditions that affect the health and well-being of many people. However, the role of obesity in the development of female reproductive disorders has been little studied. To investigate the causal links between obesity, metabolic hormones, and female reproductive disorders, the researchers conducted a Mendelian randomization study involving 257,193 women of European descent aged 40 to 69. They used data from the UK Biobank, a large biomedical database containing medical, environmental, and genetic information about the participants. The researchers then created a statistical model to estimate the association between body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio with the risk of numerous female fertility problems such as endometriosis, heavy menstrual bleeding, preeclampsia, and infertility.

The researchers found observable links between obesity and a range of female reproductive disorders, including uterine fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome, heavy menstruation, and preeclampsia. They also found that some inherited genetic variations associated with obesity are also associated with female reproductive disorders, although the strength of these associations varied depending on the type of obesity and reproductive disorder. The study had several limitations, including the low prevalence of female reproductive disorders among the participants and the lack of data on body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio before the onset of the disease.

The authors conclude: “We provide genetic evidence that both generalized and central obesity play an etiological role in a variety of female reproductive disorders, with the extent of this association varying considerably depending on the disease. Our findings suggest that the mechanisms mediating the causal links between overweight and obesity and gynecological health need to be investigated in order to identify targets for disease prevention and treatment.”