Erectile Dysfunction Caused by Obesity
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common occurrence in older men. When young, most men don't have to give any thought to achieving and maintaining an erection. Unfortunately, things that were easy to come by in your youth may not be so easily achieved when you age. Getting and sustaining an erection is actually quite a complex interaction between blood vessels, hormones, emotions, nerves and sensory information. The penis' vascular tissue needs to fill up with blood after the nerves have transported sexual stimulation from the brain. If you have health issues, including obesity, this complex system can get off track and seriously compromise your ability to get and hold onto an erection.
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BMI
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If you are obese, you have a lot more body fat than lean muscle mass. An individual who has a BMI in excess of 30 is considered obese. If the BMI is 40 or the individual is 100 pounds overweight, this is considered morbidly obese, according to Healthline.com. Libertonline.com notes that men who have a body mass index greater than 28.7 have a 30 percent greater risk of erectile dysfunction than those men with a normal BMI.
Outcome of Being Obese
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When you are overweight, this can cause an imbalance in insulin levels and blood glucose. When this occurs, you may suffer from insulin resistance, which is linked to ED. If you are overweight, the delicate equilibrium that is mandatory in order to get an erection is disrupted and the result is ED. Too much weight puts strain on the cardiovascular system, as well.
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Lower Testosterone Levels
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When a man is obese he has lower levels of testosterone because of the hormonal changes that occur when obesity is present, according to Thaindian.com and the Obesity and Weight Management Journal. In addition, he may be suffering from build up of atheroslerotic plaque in his arteries. This results in high blood pressure and damage to the arterial lining, all of which can contribute to ED.
Diabetes
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It you are obese, this can lead to other health problems including diabetes and cardiovascular issues, which certainly aren't going to benefit your sex life. Nearly half of all men who have diabetes experience ED due to the arterial and nerve damage that occurs.
Losing Weight Can Help
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Erectile dysfunction may be remedied if a man loses weight, according to James O. Hill, who is the editor in chief of Obesity and Weight Management. Also take into consideration that a man may have body issues if he is extremely overweight, which may not make him feel comfortable about having sex. Emotionally and psychologically he may not be prepared to be sexually active. Furthermore, being obese is going to take its physical and emotional toll on the individual, sapping him of his strength and energy.
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