Obesity: an epidemic of the 21st century and its relation to fertility

In Chile, excess weight and obesity have shown a steady increase over the last decades. Data from the ministry of health (MINSAL) show a rise in prevalence from 61% in 2003 to an alarming 74% of the adult population by 2019 according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OCDE). The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 4 million adult Chileans suffered obesity in 2019, placing Chile as the country in Latin America with the highest incidence of the condition. The percentage of reproductive age adults that suffer obesity is estimated in 9-18% for men and 12-28% for women. The excess body fat has serious detrimental effects on fertility potential and the reproductive capacity of couples compromising fecundity and causing anovulatory infertility and sexual dysfunction as well as poorer results in assisted reproductive technologies and obstetric outcome.

Automated summary

In Chile, there has been a steady increase in excess weight and obesity over the last decades, with alarming rates reported in recent years. Data shows that obesity has become a significant issue, impacting fertility potential and reproductive capacity, as well as leading to poorer outcomes in assisted reproduction and obstetrics.