FOR most persons, festive periods like the Yuletide are synonymous wi t h consumption of tasty food and drinks in quantities that are larger and richer than normal. Most individuals tend to be less active during the Yuletide because in addition to being a festive period, Christmas is essentially a time of rest and relaxation, particularly for average working class individuals. Visiting colleagues, neighbours, friends and families at this period coupled with attending series of parties and generally indulging in heavy Christmas lunches or dinners and New Year’s Eve treats, it can be an effort to maintain normal weight.
With all the extra socialising and, of course classic goodies to contend with, many of us find that we start the new year carrying a few extra kilos. In fact, we put on a kilo of weight on average every year, most of which is gained at Christmas and then never fully lost.
Seasonal variations in body weight can be quite remarkable and every individual’s ability to maintain a stable weight over the long term is dependent on many factors. However, that extra kilo gained over a period is more difficult to shed. In fact, if care is not taken, the extra weight may just become permanent.
Due to poorer dietary choices and lower physical activity, regaining normal weight could be a struggle. Weight gain over the holidays could be substantial particularly if you don’t follow your normal dietary and workout routine. You may actually need to visit the gym more often or just get more active.
On average, it is not surprising that you may consume as much as 7,000 calories on Christmas Day alone. This is nearly three times your normal consumption. A lot of care and caution is required to prevent this.
Apart from the fact that Christmas dinner is delicious, there is a sub-syndromal condition which often leads comfort eating. Now that the holidays are over, it’s quite possible that the consequences of your overindulging are beginning to take their toll especially if you are struggling with infertility.
Weight gain and obesity are common factors to contend with when trying to conceive and being a healthy weight before pregnancy matters for every woman, and man to some extent.
When thinking of having a baby, a woman and a man should be in the best state of health as possible. Diet and body weight have lot to do with getting pregnant. It may be surprising to learn that body weight is part of the fertility equation and being overweight can alter hormones that control menstrual cycles and ovulation, which affects the ability to conceive.
The quantity and distribution of body fat in a woman can affect the menstrual cycle through a range of hormonal mechanisms. The rule of the thumb is that the more excess weight and more abdominal fat, the greater the risk of fertility difficulties.
Excess weight, particularly excess abdominal fat, is linked to insulin resistance (when the body has to produce more insulin to keep blood sugar levels normal) and decreased levels of a sex protein that is involved in the regulation of the sex-hormones androgen and oestrogen.
Fat cells can produce estrogen (female hormone), so as a woman, your body may produce excess estrogen if you’re overweight, which can prevent you from ovulating regularly. And when you don’t ovulate regularly, it can be hard to conceive.
Being overweight might also be related to a condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is an imbalance of reproductive hormones. Women with PCOS have a hard time conceiving due to hormonal imbalances that prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg each month.
Many women with PCOS also have insulin resistance, which is associated with excess insulin. And since high insulin levels cause the ovaries to make more testosterone and less estrogen, this can halt ovulation.
The point to note is that excess weight can limit a couple’s chances of becoming pregnant. Obesity.
