Meta AnalysisHumann = 32 studies included2026Australia
The effect of obesity interventions on male fertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Plain-language summary
This study set out to review how different weight loss methods affect male fertility in men with obesity. It looked at 32 studies that compared lifestyle changes, medications, and bariatric surgery, measuring semen quality and fertility outcomes before and after the interventions. The review found that lifestyle changes improved sperm morphology and motility, while bariatric surgery showed no significant changes in semen quality. The evidence was limited, with few randomized trials and little data on actual conception rates.
Key findings
- Lifestyle interventions improved sperm normal morphology and progressive motility.
- Bariatric surgery showed no clinically significant changes in semen parameters or DNA damage.
- Weight-loss drugs (metformin, a common diabetes drug that lowers blood sugar, and liraglutide) had insufficient data to draw clear conclusions.
- Weight loss through lifestyle changes may benefit male fertility more than surgery or drugs.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Meta-analyses synthesize findings from multiple studies, providing a broader view, but they rely on the quality and consistency of the included studies.
- Population
- The review focused on reproductive-aged men with obesity who underwent weight-loss interventions.
- Funding
- Not reported
- Takeaway
- This review found that in men with obesity, losing weight through diet and exercise improved sperm quality, while bariatric surgery did not. If you are trying to conceive and weight-loss surgery is on the table for you, it may be worth asking your doctor about that gap first, because diet and training are what moved sperm here.