Impact of lifestyle factors on ovarian function and reproductive health in women

‘A record number of women are affected by what the WHO has termed ‘globesity’ at the same time infertility rates are escalating.’ Lifestyle factors play a crucial role in a woman’s ability to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy. Women of all ages vary in their fecundability and fertility, and a major contributing factor to achieving a healthy pregnancy is maternal preconception health. Infertility rates are on the rise and affect an estimated 15% of couples in industrially developed countries [1]. Infertility is diagnosed if a couple is unable to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected intercourse and spans a broad spectrum of conditions, including diagnoses such as ovulatory disorders, tubal disease, endometriosis, chromosomal abnormalities, sperm factors and unexplained infertility. Mounting evidence has shown that maternal preconception weight can set the stage for conception and beyond. Many studies have reported a U-shaped effect of body mass, and women at either extreme experience endocrine and metabolic alterations that can affect their ability to ovulate and conceive. BMI is a measure of body weight and is calculated as weight (kg) divided by height 2 (m). Healthy- or normal weight individuals have a BMI in the range of 20–24.9 kg/m 2 , while 25.0–29.9 kg/m 2 is overweight and 30 kg/m 2 and over is classified as obese. A record number of women are affected by what the WHO has termed ‘globesity’ at the same time infertility rates are escalating. The consequences of these health conditions are farreaching and affect women of all ethnic groups, all ages and all educational and socioeconomic levels. The prevalence of processed or fried foods in the Western diet, coupled with an increase in sedentary behavior, has resulted in a staggering increase in the number of women who are overweight or obese. The obesity epidemic continues to compromise health, quality