Does childhood BMI relate to later reproduction?

Investigators examined whether childhood BMI trajectories were associated with childbirth and infertility across reproductive age.

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Women with overweight or obesity BMI trajectories during childhood had lower hazards of giving birth starting at ages 25 to 29 years.
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The study analyzed data from women born in Copenhagen, Denmark, between 1950 and 1989, following them for reproductive outcomes through December 2022.
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Among 60,864 women in the childbirth analysis, 78% (47,669) gave birth, with associations between childhood BMI and childbirth becoming more pronounced at older ages.
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Childhood BMI trajectories were not associated with primary infertility, although women with an obesity trajectory had a lower hazard of primary infertility.
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The study noted that lower educational attainment may lead to underestimation of infertility among women with lower socioeconomic positions.

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