Obesity, infertility and the Cohen lifestyle

MANILA, Philippines - Medical science reveals that women who are obese face a greater risk of infertility. According to obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Angel Bandola, this is why weight loss should be the cornerstone in the treatment of obesity-associated infertility.

“Every 0.1 unit increase in the waist-to-hip ratio of women decreased the probability of conception by 30 percent per menstrual cycle. This is due to the imbalance in hormones leading to problems in ovulation, fertilization and implantation,” said Bandola, who practices at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital and St. Luke’s Medical Center, while also serving as the executive director of Cohen’s Lifestyle Centre.

She added that obese women who do get pregnant are more vulnerable to pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, stillbirths, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes.

Enter the Cohen’s Lifestyle Program, a rapid weight loss and wellness solution through nutrition based on a person’s unique blood profile. Through its holistic approach to beating obesity, the Cohen program has helped many aspiring moms lose the flab, experience the joys of motherhood, and stay in shape after giving birth.

Without requiring exercise, injection or intake of pills, the program delivers results, with clients averaging a loss of up to eight to 10 pounds (lbs) a month.

A wish granted

The stories of “Cohen mommies” (women who credit the Cohen program for their successful pregnancy) often begin with disappointment and desperation, but end in pleasant surprise and profuse gratitude.

One such mom is Cheryl Alcantara: “We have been praying to get pregnant. My seven year-old daughter had been wishing for a sibling ever since she was four, with birthday candles, tooth fairies or Santa Claus.”

The wish was finally granted after Alcantara lost 51 lbs in six months through the Cohen program: her menstrual period became regular, and soon enough, she tested positive for pregnancy. And despite being over 35 years old and more prone to complications, she was cleared of hypertension and gestational diabetes.

Conceiving through Cohen

Another Cohen mommy is Love del Rosario, 32. It took three years, two infertility specialists and several workups before she got pregnant with her eldest, especially since she was obese and was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

At 168 lbs, she found it difficult to conceive again. But through Cohen, she shed 58 lbs in less than six months. As soon as she reached her goal weight, she got pregnant: “I never thought it was possible for me to get pregnant without a fertility workup.”

Like her, Leah Alingog, 34, was diagnosed with PCOS before she got married, which led to great difficulty conceiving. But after losing over 20 lbs in three months, she got pregnant without going through any work-up.

For her part, Imelda Acidera, then a mom of three, enrolled in the Cohen’s Lifestyle Program to lose the flab. But when she shed 32 lbs in four months, she was able to conceive unexpectedly, more than eight years after the birth of her third child. Now, she is on her way to being slim again, and has been conscientiously following the Cohen’s lifestyle to shed the post-partum fat, or the “baby weight.”

Feeling blessed

The gift of motherhood is one that Cohen mommies cherish every day. As a bonus, the Cohen program has also been aiding the moms in losing the baby weight, by teaching them to watch what they eat.

As Acidera said, “Now, I know what food to choose and I have become more conscious of my eating habits,” adding that she had even acquired a more acute sense of taste, allowing her to truly enjoy every bite.

By the looks of it, Alcantara, Del Rosario, Alingog, and Acidera have not just become moms, but moms in great shape, thanks to the Cohen’s Lifestyle Program.

Bandola said, “Our mission at the Cohen’s Lifestyle Centre is to help people adopt a lifestyle change, to become better, happier versions of themselves. To be able to let these women experience motherhood, and retain their figure after giving birth, is such a great blessing.”