Everyone knows the consequences of carrying extra weight - overweight people are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some types of cancers. Being overweight can also shatter a person's self-esteem, as many studies have conclusively linked depression and unhealthy body weights. If Australian researchers are correct, it appears that we can also add erectile dysfunction (ED) to the list.
Admittedly, the study is small, consisting of only 31 male participants. Despite this handicap, the results of the research all point to the same conclusion - losing weight can improve your sex life. According to the study's authors, an obese man can noticeably improve his sex drive just by shedding just 5 to 10 percent of his body weight. The test subjects didn't have to weight long to see results; the study notes that the men lost their fat over a span of just two months.
It also bears mentioning that all of the study's participants had been diagnosed with diabetes. In addition to causing a wide range of physical symptoms, the presence of diabetes can also cause men to experience ED. This correlation is not at all uncommon, as it is estimated that 35 to 75 percent of all male diabetes patients experience some sort of ED. Contracting diabetes can also hasten the onset of ED; research suggests that men with diabetes begin to suffer ED symptoms 10 to 15 years earlier than men with normal levels of blood sugar. And yet, despite having this lifelong condition, the men in this study were able to reclaim some of their lost sexual vigor just by losing a small amount of body fat.
Why the Link?
So how could having a pot belly possibly derail your love life? The answer is relatively simple, though it doesn't make for good conversation fodder. When a man is aroused, the inner lining of the penis' blood vessels release a chemical known as nitric oxide. These molecules cause the vessels to temporarily expand, allowing the penis to be filled with blood. It is this infusion of blood that causes the male erection.
Needless to say, an erection cannot be sustained or even formed without this rush of blood. This exact scenario plays out when a man is overweight, as the penis' blood vessels simply do not expand enough (or for a long enough period of time) to allow for a prolonged erection. While medical researchers do not yet know why excess body fat interferes with the functions of the penis's blood vessels, this theory appears to be well grounded in scientific fact. The Australian team reported that their subjects' penile blood vessels performed much better without the extra weight.
A number of studies have found that being overweight can deplete a man's level of testosterone. Testosterone is a powerful hormone that powers a man's desire for sex. When the body steadily begins to produce less and less testosterone, a man's sex drive will likewise diminish.
Thinner Waistline = Better Sex Drive
The obvious conclusion from this study is that shedding pounds can resurrect a dormant sex life. Sometimes, however, a healthier lifestyle may not be enough. If you are still struggling to perform sexually, even after losing weight, you could very well benefit from using sexual health supplements. In recent years, a strong market has emerged for such products, and supplements such as Androzene have helped restore the youthful sexual vigor of countless numbers of men.
The evidence put forth from the Australian research team remains clear - a bloated waistline can quickly extinguish a once-thriving love life. Common sense adjustments in diet not only yield dividends to previously-overweight men, but to their partners as well.
Michael Harris is a contributor to Natural Knowledge 24/7, a monthly newsletter focusing on health and wellness issues. This article, along with many others covering a wide range of subjects, can be found at http://naturalknowledge247.com/
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