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.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 479-493 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2012 |
Keywords
- Fertility
- Obesity
- Public health
- Reproduction