With 1.5 billion people around the world in the overweight category, sex-related concerns of obesity is a situation various healthcare services will have to deal with sooner than later.
Being overweight can directly affect erectile dysfunction by lowering testosterone levels, quoted by Professor Mitty. Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in men, and it plays an important role in both libido and sexual function. Studies have shown that in men over 40 each one-point increase in body mass index (BMI) was associated with a 2% decrease in testosterone.
In addition a four-inch increase in waist size increased a 30 years and above aged man’s risk of having a low testosterone level by 75%！
A new Australian study, published in year 2011 in the “Journal of Sexual Medicine,” found that losing just 5% to 10% of body weight over a two-month period improved the erectile function — and revved up the sex drives.
Top 6 ways that obesity harms your sex life:
- Erectile Dysfunction
Obesity contributes to diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, which all contribute to erectile dysfunction by damaging and constricting blood vessels and affecting the way blood flows in and out of the penis. The penis needs a sufficient supply of blood to become erect and once engorged; the vessels need to close to maintain the erection.
- Hormonal imbalance leading to low libido
Increased body fat leads to more sex hormone binding globulins (SHBG) in the system. SHBG is a natural chemical that binds to testosterone, which means that there is less of the sex hormone left to handle the demands of a normal sex life.
- Infertility
Obesity is definitively liked to low sperm counts and reduced sperm motility in many studies. This leads to male infertility due to obesity. Studies have shown that for every three-point increase in a man’s BMI, couples were 10% more likely to be infertile. Furthermore, higher temperatures of the testes are linked to low sperm count. Excess fat in the inner thighs and pubic region results in high testes temperatures of over 35˚C. This may be sufficient to hinder sperm production.
- Enlargement of prostate
Men with waists of 43 inches or larger have been found to be 2.4 times more likely to need surgery for Benign prostate hyperplasia than men with waists smaller than 35 inches. Prostate gland also releases prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The PSA levels rise as the prostate gland enlarges. Obesity however lowers PSA.
- Fewer sex positions possible
Sadly, the sheer logistics of sex can change when one or both partners are fat and can make coitus in some positions particularly hard.
- Lack of Confident
Low self-esteem, depression, less likely to have sex is all about the image of the body. Easy to get tired and lack of Stamina also might affected sexual life.
So, Start Exercise today! To stay Fit and Healthy!
