Obese men may have a harder time having kids

Before starting a family, many women gravitate toward healthy habits such as taking pre-natal vitamins, cutting out caffeine and processed foods and ditching the hair dye. But a new study is saying that future fathers may also need to shape up before someone calls them "dad."

Researchers from a fertility clinic in India analyzed sperm samples from 1,285 men and published their findings in the medical journal, Andrologia. They found that obese men, those with a body mass index of 30 or higher, had lower sperm counts and greater sperm defects.
Scientists believe the extra fat may affect the ratio of estrogen and testosterone in an obese man’s body, thereby negatively influencing their ability to father a child.

The effects of obesity on conception have been previously documented for women, but the results of this study make it clear that future moms and dads should hit the treadmill before they try to push a stroller.

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