What is BMI?
Your BMI (Body mass index), is a measurement that uses your height and your weight to work out if your weight is healthy. A BMI between 19 and 25 is considered ‘healthy’. BMI considers natural body shape variations, giving a healthy weight range for a particular height.
What is the ideal BMI for Fertility
The ideal BMI for getting pregnant is between 18.5 and 24.9. This is known as the healthy range. If you have a high BMI, bringing it closer to the healthy range before trying for a baby will help your chances of getting pregnant as well as improving the health of your future pregnancy.
You can calculate your BMI on the NHS website.
Can I still get pregnant with a high BMI?
Many women do get pregnant when they have a high BMI and give birth to healthy, happy babies. It may take a little longer in some cases, but it is possible. However, we would always recommend your BMI being within the healthy weight range if you are considering starting a family.
If you have had difficulty conceiving, a high BMI might be one of the factors. Fertility treatment like IVF may increase your chances of success, but you could speak to a Fertility Specialist about your options first.
Why is having a healthy BMI important?
There are many reasons that having a healthy BMI is recommended not just for your fertility but also for having a longer and healthier life and it can also help decrease your chances of getting other conditions or diseases later on in life.
How can I improve my BMI?
The best way to improve your BMI is through a combination of diet and exercise. To lose weight you have to burn more calories than you eat. We know that losing weight isn’t easy, which is why at Manchester Fertility have 10 quick tips on ways to help improve your BMI.
10 Tips to improve your BMI
- Increasing the amount of exercise, you do each day, (even if it is walking up the stairs instead of taking the lift).
- Aim for at least five servings of vegetables and fruits a day!
- Avoid food that is high in sugar, like sweetened cereal, pastries, cakes and high in sugar flavoured drinks.
- Look at your daily portion sizes.
- Talk to a professional nutritionist, who can advise you on what diet to follow.
- Have a daily goal, change one thing daily.
- Drink more water – this helps you burn more calories and may even suppress your appetite if drank before meals.
- Don’t eat while watching TV – you eat more as you are doing two things at once.
- 15 minutes of laughter a day could burn up to 10 to 40 calories!
- Forget ‘fad diets’, think more long-term in your healthy eating habits!
Expert advice to help you begin your fertility journey
At Manchester Fertility, we put our patients’ experience at the heart of everything we do. If you’re concerned about your BMI and how it may affect your fertility, talk to our friendly expert team today.
Our specialists can provide personal advice, guidance and support tailored to your specific situation, to help you get the most from your fertility journey. And rest assured, we will make the whole process as stress free as possible. Call us today on 0161 300 2737 to get started or book a free 1-2-1 to find out more.
Last updated: 8th April 2021
