Obesity and ED

[Flavio]

Willie has already mentioned this on his ED treatments thread, but now there's a new study published at urotoday.com that shows that obesity is a major cause of impotence:


«Abdominal Obesity and Physical Inactivity Are Associated with Erectile Dysfunction Independent of Body Mass Index - Abstract


Tuesday, 30 June 2009
School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common among men with an elevated body mass index (BMI). However, a high waist circumference (WC) and low levels of physical activity may predict ED independently of BMI.

We investigated the independent relationships between BMI, WC, and physical activity with ED.

Subjects consisted of 3,941 adult men (age >/= 20 years) with no history of prostate cancer from the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relative odds of ED association with categories of BMI, WC, and physical activity.

Established thresholds were used to divide subjects into three WC and BMI categories. Physical activity level was divided into active (>/=150 min/week), moderately active (30-149 min/week), and inactive (< 30 min/week) categories. A single survey question was used to assess the presence of ED.

After control for potential confounders, men with either a high WC or an obese BMI had an approximately 50% higher odds of having ED compared with men with a low WC or a normal BMI, respectively. Further, moderately active or inactive men had an approximately 40-60% greater odds of ED compared with active men. When all three predictors (WC, BMI, and physical activity level) were entered into the same logistic regression model, both a high WC and low physical activity level (moderately active and inactive) were independently associated with a greater odds of ED, whereas BMI level was not.

Maintaining a WC level below 102 cm and achieving the recommended amount of moderate-intensity physical activity (>/=150 min/week) is associated with the maintenance of proper erectile function, regardless of BMI level. These findings suggest that the clinical screening for ED risk should include the assessment of WC and physical activity level in addition to BMI. Janiszewski PM, Janssen I, and Ross R. Abdominal obesity and physical inactivity are associated with erectile dysfunction independent of body mass index.

Written by:
Janiszewski PM, Janssen I, Ross R.»

[tictacer]

I can attest to this. Use be be 150 pounds 2 years ago and my erections were very hard and firm. After gaining 30 pounds and going from a size 32 - 34 I have noticed my erections go south. I have ED issues all the time but am able to masturbate without issues..

[Willie]

A few years ago I was in phenomenal shape and I also went some weeks with no sexual release whatsoever. Anyway, when I was done, the first sexual release I had (porno unfortunately, no woman) was the most incredible erection and level of arousal I've had in a long time.

I do not know how much of this was related to being in incredible shape or also the weeks without any release. I have noticed that going a long time without any sexual activity makes arousal levels much higher when the time comes.

[sedric]

Yeah, every time I go to one of our churches retreats for 5 days I come back super horny and my erections are stiff as a tree. Maybe sometimes we just have to shake up our daily routine and not masturbate to much, which I do allot of btw...... got to lay of this..

[eduser_admin]

Thanks for posting all the useful information Flavio, I cannot thank you enough for all the information you are contributing to this forum

[Flavio]

Another study on weight loss and ED:

Effects of weight loss intervention on erectile function in older men with type 2 diabetes in the Look AHEAD trial - Abstract


Friday, 11 September 2009
The Miriam Hospital/Brown Medical School, Providence, RI, USA.

Overweight men with diabetes often report erectile dysfunction (ED), but few studies have examined effects of weight loss on this problem. Aim. This study examined 1-year changes in erectile function (EF) in overweight/obese men with type 2 diabetes participating in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial.

Participants in Look AHEAD were randomly assigned to a control condition involving diabetes support and education (DSE) or to intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) involving group and individual sessions to reduce weight and increase physical activity. Men from five of the clinical sites in Look AHEAD completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) at baseline (N = 372) and at 1 year (N = 306) (82%).

Changes in EF as reported on the EF subscale of the IIEF. Results. At 1 year, the ILI group lost a greater percent of initial body weight (9.9% vs. 0.6 %) and had greater improvements in fitness (22.7% vs. 4.6%) than DSE. EF improved more in ILI (17.3 +/- 7.6 at baseline; 18.6 +/- 8.1 at 1 year) than in DSE (18.3 +/- 7.6 at baseline; 18.4 +/- 8.0 at 1 year); P = 0.04 and P = 0.06 after adjusting for baseline differences. Using established norms for none (i.e., normal EF), and three grades (i.e., mild, moderate, and severe) ED, 8% of men in ILI reported a worsening of EF from baseline to 1 year, 70% stayed in the same category, and 22% reported improvements. In contrast, 20% of DSE reported worsening, 57% stayed in the same category, and 23% improved (P = 0.006).

In this sample of older overweight/obese diabetic men, weight loss intervention was mildly helpful in maintaining EF.

Written by:
Wing RR, Rosen RC, Fava JL, Bahnson J, Brancati F, Gendrano Iii IN, Kitabchi A, Schneider SH, Wadden TA. Are you the author?

Reference:
J Sex Med. 2009 Aug 17. Epub ahead of print.
doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01458.x

PubMed Abstract
PMID:19694925

UroToday.com Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Section

[Flavio]

Here's a recent study that aims to clarify the link between ED and obesity:



"Mechanisms of obesity and related pathologies: androgen deficiency and endothelial dysfunction may be the link between obesity and erectile dysfunction - Abstract


Thursday, 22 October 2009
Department of Biochemistry and Urology, Boston University School of Medicine, MA 02118, USA.

[...]

Obesity is associated with a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction; however, the pathophysiological link between obesity and erectile dysfunction remains poorly understood. In this minireview, we have attempted to evaluate the existing literature pertaining to obesity and erectile dysfunction to determine whether a common pathophysiological link exists. Visceral obesity is associated with increased inflammatory responses, which contribute to endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, obesity is also associated with reduced plasma testosterone levels, which contributes to hypogonadism and increases the risk of vascular pathology. Endothelial dysfunction and androgen deficiency have previously been linked to the pathophysiological mechanisms of erectile dysfunction. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction and testosterone deficiency include penile vascular insufficiency as a result of the loss of nitric oxide synthase expression and activity and the loss of tissue compliance, resulting in reduced hemodynamic properties. Recent progress in the field of sexual medicine has recognized the impact of vascular disease and hypogonadism on the management of patients with erectile dysfunction. We suggest that visceral obesity, a component of the metabolic syndrome, adversely affects endothelial function and testosterone levels, contributing to hypogandism and erectile dysfunction. Thus, clinical screening for the risk of erectile dysfunction in obese patients should include the assessment of waist circumference, testosterone levels, body mass index and physical inactivity.

Written by:
Traish AM, Feeley RJ, Guay A. Are you the author?

Reference:
FEBS J. 2009 Oct;276(20):5755-67.
doi:10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.07305.x

PubMed Abstract
PMID:19754871

UroToday.com Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Section"