Obese men could double their sperm count by losing weight

All over the world, men are suffering from a deterioration in the quality of their sperm, making it difficult for them to desire fatherhood. Today, male obesity is considered as one of the potential causes of this infertility.

But a new study from the University of Copenhagen and Hvidovre Hospital would bring good news for the men concerned. Indeed, she showed that obese men could improve their sperm quality if they lost weight – and stayed at a healthy weight. And who says improve the quality of his sperm, says boost his fertility!

Weight loss improves sperm quality

For their study, the researchers drew inspiration from a May 2021 publication by the New England Journal of Medicine, conducted on 215 obese men. Of these 215 men, the Danish researchers selected 56 for their sub-study.

The 215 participants followed a low-calorie diet (which is low in calories) for 8 weeks, which resulted in weight loss. Then they were divided into 4 groups. Two groups received a placebo drug, and two others received an obesity drug. In the 2 subgroups, only one group had to follow a physical training program, the other not.

After one year, the placebo group that exercised as well as the group that received only obesity medication and did not exercise managed to maintain their loss. weight of 13 kg. The group that received both medication and exercise lost even more weight, and improved their overall health. The placebo group that did not exercise – regained half of the lost weight and experienced “a worsening of many risk factors linked to the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease”.

Among the different groups, the researchers therefore asked 56 obese Danish men (BMI = 32 to 43), aged 18 to 65, to provide them with semen samples. The goal ? Study the link between sperm quality and weight loss. They discovered that weight loss had a real positive impact on sperm quality: “Men lost an average of 16.5 kg, which increased sperm concentration by 50% and sperm count by 40%, 8 weeks after weight loss,” said one of the study’s authors.

“We were surprised that weight loss could lead to such a significant improvement in sperm quality. And since 18% of Danes are obese, this new knowledge can really make a difference”. In France, obese people represent 17% of the population.

Lasting weight loss is needed to double sperm count

Yes, weight loss improves sperm quality. But it still needs to be sustained over the long term.

For 52 weeks after the weight loss, the men maintained the improvement in sperm quality. After a year, “men who managed to maintain their weight loss had twice as many sperm as before their weight loss”explains the study. “Men who regained weight lost improvement in semen quality”.

The link between a high sperm count and faster pregnancy having already been demonstrated, this new study is a harbinger of good news for those affected by infertility.

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