Obesity May Play A Role In Erectile Dysfunction

Main Category: Erectile Dysfunction / Premature Ejaculation
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness;  Men's health;  Urology / Nephrology
Article Date: 08 Jan 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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A new study may be an important motivational tool for obese men to lose weight! According to a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, the official journal of the International Society for Sexual Medicine, obese men with erectile dysfunction (ED) are shown to have low levels of hormones, such as testosterone. A correlation between certain conditions associated with obesity, particularly hypertension, are the most important determinants of obesity-related ED.

The link between obesity and male potency dates from the Byzantine era, when it was thought that a large stomach impaired a man's ability to have sexual intercourse. This is particularly relevant today, as the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled in the last 25 years. Excess abdominal fat, cardiovascular disease, high blood lipids and type-2 diabetes characterize a condition known as metabolic syndrome, which has recently been associated with erectile dysfunction.

The study included 2,435 male patients who sought treatment at an outpatient clinic for sexual dysfunction between 2001 and 2007. The results showed that obesity was significantly associated with a higher physical contribution to ED, while there was no difference seen with relational or psychological determinants. As the severity level of obesity increased, levels of testosterone decreased (two out of three patients with morbid obesity had low testosterone). Obese patients were also more likely to have abnormalities in penile blood flow. Psychological disturbances related to obesity did not seem to play a major role in developing obesity-related ED.

"This is a landmark study in that it shows that sexual health is clearly linked to overall health, and that improving one's general health provides a man the opportunity to improve his erectile function" states Dr. Irwin Goldstein, Alvarado Hospital's Sexual Medicine Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine."

Alvarado Hospital is a 306-bed acute care hospital that also operates the San Diego Rehabilitation Institute and Advanced Spine Institute, which serves patients with either inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation needs. Alvarado has more than 500 on-staff physicians, 1,000 employees and 400 volunteers who provide quality care to East County San Diego. Alvarado Hospital's programs include cardiac services, emergency medicine services, neuroscience, orthopedics, oncology, rehabilitation, general surgical services, sexual medicine, skull base surgery, sleep center, vascular services and surgical weight reduction. http://www.alvaradohospital.com

Source
Sandy Nesheiwat
Account Executive
MGA - Miller Geer Arizmendez, Inc.
18327 Gridley Road
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