Healthy living and weight loss ‘doubles women’s chances of pregnancy’

LOSING just two-thirds of a stone can double a woman’s chance of getting pregnant, a study found yesterday.

Those who adopted a healthy lifestyle for six months slimmed by almost 10lbs on average and “significantly” increased fertility.

Experts say this is likely to be due to changes taking place in the body — plus the fact weight loss makes women feel better so they have more sex.

For the study, 207 overweight and obese would-be mums were either put on a programme of moderate exercise, such as walking, or told to be inactive.

The first group lost 9.7lbs on average and a quarter became pregnant in two years — double the other group’s rate.

Dr Anne van Oers of the University Medical Centre in Groningen, Holland, said: “There was a significant beneficial effect on rates of natural conception.”

A fertility conference in Helsinki, Finland, heard the study was the first “robust” test of the effect of lifestyle changes.

Doctors say it is likely to apply to all but women who are already slim.

Gynaecologist Stuart Lavery of London’s Hammersmith Hospital said: “The changes in BMI do not have to be enormous.

“There’s evidence that if you lose weight, you feel better about yourself and have more sex.”

British Fertility Society chairman Adam Balen added: “Losing weight can also have a beneficial effect on the long-term health of a baby.”

Some 59 per cent of women in England are overweight or obese.