Turning waiting time into treatment time: Weight reduction by a lifestyle intervention programme for patients with obesity before fertility treatment

Abstract

AimTo evaluate the effects of offering a clinic‐driven lifestyle intervention programme in the waiting time before fertility treatment to women and men with obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2).MethodsThis prospective intervention study was conducted at a public Danish fertility clinic. All consecutive patients, both women and men, referred to the clinic between May 2020 and March 2021 with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 were offered a 6‐month lifestyle intervention programme consisting of monthly motivational dialogues and counselling with a certified nutritionist nurse. Weight loss maintenance was evaluated at a 1‐year follow‐up visit conducted 6‐months after completion of the programme. The primary outcomes were absolute weight loss (kg) and relative weight loss (percent compared with weight at inclusion) upon completing the 6‐month programme and at the 1‐year follow‐up. Secondary outcome measures were effects on biochemical metabolic markers.ResultsForty‐five participants were enroled in the study, of which 38 completed the 6‐months lifestyle intervention programme and 33 participated in the 1‐year follow‐up. The participants' mean weight loss was 5.4 kg (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.3, 7.5) after the 6‐month programme (30 of 38 participants lost weight) and 4.4 kg (95% CI: 1.4, 7.3) at the 1‐year follow‐up compared with baseline. Previously undiagnosed metabolic conditions were revealed in 61% of the participants, including four cases (11%) of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus type 2.ConclusionA clinic‐driven lifestyle intervention programme offered to patients with obesity in the waiting time for fertility treatment can successfully reduce weight in a high number of patients with stable results at 1‐year follow‐ups. Metabolic conditions, including diabetes mellitus type 2, are likely underdiagnosed in this group of patients, but further studies are needed.