Preconception weight loss prior to infertility therapy does not improve live birth or healthy live birth rates in women who were obese or overweight, according to a study published in PLOS Medicine. Richard S. Legro, MD, FACOG, and colleagues randomly assigned (1:1) 379 women with obesity (BMI, ≥30 kg/m2) and unexplained infertility to one of two preconception lifestyle modification groups: increased physical activity and weight loss (target 7%) through meal replacements and medication (intensive group) compared with increased physical activity alone without weight loss (standard group). Interventions lasted 16 weeks and were followed by infertility therapy. Researchers observed no significant differences in the incidence of healthy live births (15.2% in the standard group vs 12.2% in the intensive group; rate ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.48-1.34). Women randomly assigned to the intensive group had significant weight loss compared with those in the standard group (−6.6 vs −0.3). Improvements in metabolic health were observed in both groups, including a marked decrease in the incidence of metabolic syndrome.
