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:
1.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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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!
