An Australian study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that obese men with diabetes were able to improve both sexual drive and erectile function by losing just 5% to 10% of their body weight.
How extra weight and a poor diet causes ED
There are several ways that being overweight or obese can affect sexual function.
Decreased testosterone, an inability to supply blood to the penis and nitric oxide to the muscles around the penis, nerve damage due to stroke or atherosclerosis (hardened arteries) in the small blood vessels leading to the penis can all contribute to sexual problems.
In fact, ED is often seen as an early warning sign of heart disease because the small blood vessels leading to the penis are often the first to be damaged by atherosclerosis.
Likewise, belly fat is a strong predictor of heart risk—more so than carrying extra fat on other parts of the body. In an interview with CNN Health, Dr. Kevin Billups, an associate professor of urology at the University of Minnesota said that when a patient comes to see him about ED, he tells him to stand up and look down. “If you can’t see your penis, that’s a problem,” says Billups.
The psychological effects of extra weight and ED
Like many things in life, being overweight and having ED can create a vicious cycle. Men who are depressed about having ED or anxious that they can’t perform in the bedroom may turn to food to console themselves.
But the good news is that the reverse can work too! Losing weight can give you back your erections and confidence, which can encourage you to keep the weight off.
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