Battling with the bulge to make room for baby
Experts fear the obesity epidemic gripping the UK and other countries could lead to an infertility crisis.
One expert has suggested the proportion of couples seeking infertility treatment could double to one in five within a decade.
"We're at the tip of the iceberg," says Bill Ledger, professor of obstetrics at the University of Sheffield.
But he said the problem could be eased if women lost weight before resorting to medical interventions to get pregnant. If women lose even a little weight and, more importantly, improve their fitness, their chances of getting pregnant radically improve.
Hannah Waller from Leeds was told she would never conceive while she was obese.
So at the age of 22 she took the decision to join a growing number of women turning to surgery in order to lose weight.
"I was very sporty at school but when I was 13 my body changed and I started to put on weight. I turned into a Goth to try to hide my figure in black baggy clothes," says Hannah. "I lost all my self- confidence."
She tried every diet going, but even if she did lose weight she would pile on more as soon as she started to eat normally again.
It go so bad that by the age of 22 she wouldn't even go into the pub because she thought people would stare at her, and she spent most of the time in tears.
"My mum finally said enough is enough, something needs to be done. Luckily my mum is the Clinical Director of WLS (The Weight Loss Surgery Group), she had been thinking about it for a while but needed me to say it first. I had all the information to hand to make my decision – it wasn't an easy one. I was given the options, of a gastric band
and the benefits, and also gastric bypass."
Hannah decided to have a gastric bypass.
"I hate hospitals and anything to do with surgery, so the operation really was the last option for me, when I finally got my surgery date I was terrified."
Like many overweight women, Hannah developed polycystic ovaries and was told she would have to lose weight if she ever wanted to have a child.
Since the operation Hannah has lost more than six stone, dropping from 15st 7 to 9st 7. She says her life has completely changed. She has met her partner, Robert Woodwark, and she is now 30 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby girl.
"I wanted my life back," says Hannah.
"I wish the options had been there from an early preventative age rather then a cure. It's been amazing, although not an easy way out or an easy option by any stretch of the imagination. It's hard work, learning to eat again, small portions, new foods, getting over the 'head hunger'."
Just last week the Yorkshire Post reported on Zoe Bolderson who lost a massive 14 stone after being told she was too fat to conceive.
Zoe had weighed 34 stone. She managed to lose 11 stone and had a gastric band fitted. Zoe and her husband, Vince, are now celebrating the arrival of their first son, Dylan.
"We're so happy we have Dylan – he is a lovely, content baby and we're both over the moon," she said.
"I've still got another seven or eight stone to go before I'm where I want to be. It's taken two years and it's not over yet, so it's not a quick fix. I'm so glad I had the operation done and I've got no regrets – especially now we have Dylan."
Zoe had battled against weight problems since she was a toddler. She suffered bullying and low self-esteem and truanted from school as she grew up. Now she is working with a dietician to ensure Dylan's weight is never an issue.
"I'm determined Dylan won't go through the same problems I did – although it does look like he's going to follow his dad, who is 6ft 4ins tall and slim, " she said.
"But that is something I feel really strongly about – I don't want him to suffer like I have or ever get to the point where he needs surgery to address it."
For others, the idea of surgery doesn't appeal, but Rick and Michelle Shepherd took another extreme option in a bid to lose weight.
The couple, from York, decided to take part in the ITV reality show The Biggest Loser after they were advised that they would both need to lose weight if they wanted to increase their chances of ever having a child.
Before taking part in the programme earlier this year Michelle weighed more than 17 stone and her husband 22st 8. The pair, who spend half of the year in Spain, had been trying to have a baby for some time but without luck.
Rick has a low sperm count and doctors told him that losing at least 10 per cent of his body weight would increase the chance of becoming a father.
"I am a DJ and spent seven nights a week socialising. Drink was a big factor in my weight gain. I'd always been fit and was a scuba diver, but then my weight started to become a problem."
It was Rick's idea to take part in the programme, which sees a group of overweight people put through a gruelling health and fitness regime until the final weigh-in six months later. The contestants spend some of that time in a Big Brother-style house, with TV cameras watching their every move.
Although Rick and Michelle only lasted two weeks in the house they do not regret the experience.
"We have both learnt an awful lot about nutrition, diet and fitness," says Michelle who now weighs around 13 stone. "We now eat three balanced meals a day and go to the gym five days a week."
While Michelle has lost around 15 per cent of her body weight, Rick has lost around 10 per cent, increasing the couple's chances of conceiving by 50 per cent. "We both feel healthier, although we both still want to lose more weight. It has definitely changed the way we live our lives," says Rick.
The couple are hoping their continued weight loss will give them the result they are looking for – a baby.
The Biggest Loser – The Workout is available on
DVD (17.99) from all good retailers.
FERTILITY'S A WEIGHT ISSUE
Obesity has a significant adverse impact on reproductive outcome.
It influences not only the chance of conception but also the response to fertility treatment, and increases the risk of miscarriage, congenital anomalies and pregnancy complications, in addition to potential adverse effects on long- term health of both mother and infant.
Women should aim for a normal BMI before starting any form of fertility treatment.
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