title: Obesity and reproductive function.
abstract: Obesity is associated with multiple adverse reproductive outcomes, but the mechanisms involved are largely unknown. Obesity has been referred to as a "complex system," defined as a system of heterogeneous parts interacting in nonlinear ways to influence the behavior of the parts as a whole. Human reproduction is also a complex system; hence the difficulty in identifying the mechanisms linking obesity and adverse reproductive function. This review discusses the adverse reproductive outcomes associated with obesity and the mechanisms involved and concludes with a discussion of public health policy with respect to the treatment of infertility in obese women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63108, USA. jungheime@wustl.edu
authors.forename: Emily S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Jungheim
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Travieso
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: Kelle H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Moley
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D058872:Epidemics; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health; D015431:Weight Loss