Obese men have more abnormal sperm and make less semen, say researchers from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
In this new study, 2,037 men attending the Aberdeen Fertility Centre had their body mass index (BMI) measured. Researchers evaluated over 5,000 sperm samples to determine if BMI had any affect on a man's sperm quality.
When compared to their slimmer peers, obese men (BMI>30) had a 60 percent higher chance of having a low volume of semen and a 40 percent higher chance of having some abnormal sperm.
Underweight men (BMI<20) were just as likely to have the same problems as obese men.
"Men who are trying for a baby with their partners should first try to achieve an ideal body weight," says this study's lead author.
According to a 2005 report by Statistic Canada, 23 percent of men are obese.
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