21st May 2026 - 22nd May 2026

Workshop: Reduction (f)or Reproduction – the Safety and Efficacy of New Weight Loss Approaches in Relation to Reproductive Health

Name: Workshop: Reduction (f)or Reproduction – the Safety and Efficacy of New Weight Loss Approaches in Relation to Reproductive Health
Start: 2026-05-21
End: 2026-05-22

Obesity increases the risk of infertility and pregnancy complications, and although new surgical and pharmaceutical weight-loss options offer rapid and effective results, they have not been developed with reproductive health in mind and lack sufficient long-term safety data for those trying to conceive.

Building on a previous IAS workshop, this event will welcome a core group of international multidisciplinary experts to identify evidence gaps, set research priorities, draft guideline recommendations and expand a multidisciplinary network to address the reproductive implications of modern pharmacological weight-loss interventions.

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Obesity is a significant risk factor for male and female infertility and, even if conception is achieved, pregnancies complicated by obesity pose a major risk for mothers and infants and are associated with a range of complications and adverse events. Therefore, prospective parents are encouraged to achieve a healthy weight prior to conception but achieving and maintaining this in practice is extremely difficult due to environmental, lifestyle, health and economic factors.

Whilst a healthy diet and increased activity have been the mainstay of weight management for decades, more recent surgical and pharmaceutical advancements have offered people with obesity alternative approaches to support weight loss with proven efficacy and rapid results. Bariatric (obesity) surgery (e.g. gastric bypass or bands) and weight loss drugs (oral tablets or injectable GLP-1 Receptor Agonists such as Ozempic) are an attractive option for those of reproductive age wishing to increase their natural fertility and/ or ensure their eligibility for assisted reproduction. However, whilst they undoubtedly 'work' these drugs and techniques have not been developed with reproductive health in mind; there are significant safety concerns and a lack of data for longer term outcomes in people where medication/ surgery and pregnancy overlap.

This workshop will comprise roundtable discussions, plenary updates from international experts and individual contributions. Join our team of academics and practitioners working in the fields of conception care, fertility, nutrition and bariatric surgery to debate the evidence, shape the research agenda and develop the clinical guidance that is so desperately needed.

ORGANISERS

Dr Kathryn Hart, University of Surrey, UK

Professor Jill Shawe, University of Plymouth, UK

Professor Roland Devlieger, KU Leuven, Belgium

INVITED SPEAKERS

Sinead Blowers, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

Katie Edwards, University of Plymouth

Roland Devlieger, KU Leuven

Pauline Dunne, School of Population Health, Dublin

Kate Maslin, University of Plymouth

Jill Shawe, University of Plymouth

Photo by Haberdoedas on Unsplash