According to a large American study, women’s risk of infertility increases by 3% for every additional inch of fat on the waist.

According to a study, a woman’s risk of infertility increases by three percent for every additional inch around her waist.

Researchers analyzed data from 3,200 women in the United States between the ages of 18 and 45 who were interviewed about their fertility history and provided information about their health and physical activity levels.

Infertility was defined by women who answered “yes” to the question of whether they had tried unsuccessfully to conceive for a year.

Analyzes have shown that waist circumference is linked to infertility: for every centimeter increase, the risk of infertility increased by three percent.

Women with a waist circumference of 60 cm had the lowest infertility rates, while women with a waist circumference of 160 cm or more reported infertility the most.

Participants with the largest waist circumference had more than twice the risk of infertility than those at the other end of the scale.

However, for women with a waist circumference greater than 113.5 cm, “moderate leisure activity” appears to reverse the effect.

According to the CDC, moderate activity increases your heart rate, makes you breathe faster and sweat.

Examples of moderate-intensity activities include brisk walking, where you can still talk but not sing.

The team from Huizhou Central People’s Hospital in China wrote in the journal Plos One: “Tail circumference is a positive predictor of female infertility, independent of BMI.”

“Women trying to conceive can increase their chances of conceiving by monitoring their waist circumference and participating in moderate recreational activities.”

Figures show the average waist circumference of women in the UK is 89cm – a figure which has risen in recent decades due to rising obesity rates.

A larger waistline can also increase your risk for heart disease, cancer and diabetes, according to data.