Influence of Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) on Selected Semen Parameters.

Because male obesity may result in reproductive failure, we aimed to examine the possible links among body mass index (BMI), the waist-hip ratio (WHR), and basic semen parameters, the oxidation-reduction potential of semen, the total antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma, the ability of sperm to bind hyaluronic acid, and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). This study was performed on semen ( = 543) collected from volunteers classified as follows: normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m), overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m), obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m), with a normal WHR (<1) or abnormal WHR (≥1). No significant differences in standard semen parameters were found between men with a normal BMI and those with overweight/obesity. However, compared with overweight men, obese men had a higher SDF index prevalence and risk for an SDF index > 20%. Compared with men with WHR < 1, those with WHR ≥ 1 had significantly lower sperm motility, morphology, and vitality and an increased SDF index, prevalence and risk for an SDF index > 20%. In conclusion, abnormal WHR had a greater negative impact on conventional semen parameters than abnormal BMI. Both BMI ≥ 30.0 and WHR ≥ 1 negatively influenced sperm chromatin integrity only. Obesity is a potential risk factor for sperm DNA damage.