Denmark Study Links High Childhood BMI to Adult Childlessness

A large Danish cohort study of 60,864 women born between 1950 and 1989 examined childhood body‑mass‑index (BMI) trajectories from ages 6 to 15. Women whose BMI followed overweight or obesity patterns were significantly less likely to have children than those with average‑weight trajectories, with the disparity already evident in their mid‑20s. By their 30s, when many begin trying to conceive, the reduced reproductive capacity appears established. The research, published in JAMA Network Open and led by Dr Dorthe C. Pedersen of Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, highlights the long‑term fertility implications of early‑life weight gain and underscores the need for preventive health measures that promote healthy growth in childhood.