Danish study links childhood overweight to lower fertility in adulthood

A long-term Danish study has found that women with higher body mass index in childhood were less likely to have children later in life, according to researchers. The analysis tracked health records of more than 60,000 Danish women, comparing childhood weight measurements with birth rates between ages 25 and 45. Jennifer Baker of Frederiksberg Hospital said the study identified a link between excess childhood weight and reduced fertility, with the effect most pronounced among women aged 30 to 45. Women classified as having a high childhood BMI were 22% less likely to have children between ages 25 and 29, and 44% less likely to do so between ages 35 and 45. Researchers said obesity may affect reproductive health through mechanisms such as chronic low-grade inflammation and impaired ovarian function. Dr. Evelina Graifer of Northwell Health in New York said inflammatory processes could harm ovarian health and reduce the chances of pregnancy. The authors cautioned that the findings point to an association rather than a direct causal link between childhood excess weight and infertility, and said further research is needed to clarify the relationship.