Skip to main content

Assisted Reproductive Technology Not Tied to Higher BMI in Childhood

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 20, 2023.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20, 2023 -- Being born after assisted reproductive technology (ART) is not associated with higher body mass index (BMI) at age 5 to 8 years, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in PLOS Medicine.

Kristina Laugesen, M.D., Ph.D., from Aarhus University in Denmark, and colleagues examined associations between different fertility treatments and BMI in children at age 5 to 8 years. The analysis included 327,301 Danish children born between 2007 and 2012 (13,675 born after ART and 7,728 born after ovulation induction with or without intrauterine insemination [OI/IUI]).

The researchers found that the crude prevalence of obesity was 1.9 percent in children born after ART, 2.0 percent in those born after OI/IUI, and 2.7 percent in those born after no fertility treatment. Children born after ART and OI/IUI had the same prevalence of being overweight (11 percent; prevalence odds ratio [POR], 1.00 [95 percent confidence interval (CI), 0.91 to 1.11]; P = 0.95) or obese (1.9 percent; POR, 1.01 [95 percent CI, 0.79 to 1.29]; P = 0.94) in adjusted analyses. A similar pattern was seen when comparing intracytoplasmic sperm injection with conventional in vitro fertilization (overweight: POR, 0.95 [95 percent CI, 0.83 to 1.07]; P = 0.39; obesity: POR, 1.16 [95 percent CI, 0.84 to 1.61]; P = 0.36). After frozen-thawed (2.7 percent) embryo transfer, obesity was more prevalent than after fresh embryo transfer (1.8 percent; POR, 1.54 [95 percent CI, 1.09 to 2.17]; P = 0.01).

"Our overall null results provide reassuring results for couples with infertility seeking help," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Semaglutide Beneficial for People With Obesity, Knee Osteoarthritis

THURSDAY, Oct. 31, 2024 -- For individuals with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, once-weekly semaglutide yields greater reductions in body weight and pain related to knee...

Elevated BMI Linked to Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 in Children

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2024 -- For children with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, elevated body mass index (BMI) is associated with an...

Healthy Eating Index 2015 Score Linked to Overactive Bladder

TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2024 -- There is a positive association between a higher Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 score and overactive bladder (OAB), according to a study published...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.