Roughly 50% of men over the age of 40 will experience erectile dysfunction. At the same time, the obesity rate for men in American is a little over 40%. Several million men fall into both categories, and that's no coincidence.
There's a significant connection between the two conditions, and being overweight or obese is a critical risk factor for the development of erectile dysfunction. The most popular (and often effective) way to treat erectile dysfunction is with prescription ED medications, but these won't cure underlying issues or prevent ED from happening again.
For significantly overweight guys, there's a good chance that weight loss can treat erectile dysfunction.
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is defined as the difficulty or inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sex.
While there's no single, definitive cause of erectile dysfunction, there are many risk factors that increase the chances of it happening. Some of them are physical conditions and some are psychological, such as stress, depression, and anxiety.
It’s normal to occasionally experience erectile dysfunction, but when it becomes more common or a regular occurrence, it may be time to talk to a doctor.
Erectile dysfunction is most commonly associated with aging, and while older men are at a higher risk, it’s possible for young men to experience ED too. Some estimates suggest that the prevalence of ED is 10% for every decade of life; i.e. 30% of guys in their 30s will experience ED, and 60% of men in their 60's.
Since there's no singular cure for erectile dysfunction, you can only treat the symptoms and work to reduce risk factors or underlying conditions. Prescription medications such as Viagra® and Cialis® are the most popular and generally the most effective treatments for erectile dysfunction, but these are not interventions that can solve the issue outright.
For a long term solution, the best course is to identify and treat the root cause of your erectile dysfunction.
Increased Risk with Extra Weight
No surprise, carrying extra weight around can have several negative effects on your overall health. One of the easiest assessment tools (though with some known limitations) is body mass index, or BMI.
This numerical measurement of body composition or body fat is based on the height and weight of an adult man or woman. The optimal range is between an 18.5 and a 24.9 according to health experts, with any number higher than 25 indicating an overweight composite and any number over 30 indicating obesity.
Men with a BMI between 25 and 30, the data shows, are 1.5X more likely to develop erectile dysfunction than men with a normal BMI. Men with a BMI over 30 are three times as likely to develop ED.
In addition, being overweight puts you at greater risk for developing the following conditions, all of which are known to contribute to ED:
Type 2 Diabetes
Carrying around extra weight can lead to increased insulin resistance, and for this reason, obesity is considered a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes.
Due to the nerve damage that often occurs as a result of diabetes, it's also considered a major risk factor for erectile dysfunction. In fact, men with type 2 diabetes are between two and three times more likely to experience erectile dysfunction. Within five to 10 years of the diagnosis, almost half of all diabetic men will develop erectile dysfunction.
Cardiovascular Conditions
The more weight that the body carries, the more stress on the cardiovascular system. The heart works much harder in men dealing with obesity in order to pump blood to the extremities, and obese individuals require more blood to supply oxygen and essential nutrients throughout the body. Obese individuals also typically have higher cholesterol and atherogenesis, making blood flow even more difficult.
All of these issues combine, leading to a dramatic increase in blood pressure, which is also a major risk factor for erectile dysfunction. Since erections require a strong and consistent flow of blood to the penis, anything that negatively impacts the cardiovascular system negatively impacts erections.
Oxidative Stress
Obesity is known to result in chronic oxidative stress throughout the body as well, a result of an imbalance of free radicals. These unstable atoms contribute to tremendous harm to cells, tissues, and muscles in the body, including those located in the penis. Additionally, this stress can reduce the production and availability of nitric oxide, which is a critical chemical messenger that helps to relax the smooth muscles in the penis and expand blood vessels, allowing the erection process to happen. These issues can contribute to severe erectile dysfunction.
What Does Weight Have To Do With Erectile Dysfunction?
There has been plenty of research on the relationship between obesity and erectile dysfunction. Results have shown that overweight or obese men have between a 30% and 90% greater chance of experiencing erectile dysfunction than men in the optimal weight range.
Strictly speaking, obesity itself is not the cause of erectile dysfunction, but rather the issues and complications that accompany the condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
For example, studies have shown that men with a 42 inch waist will be twice as likely to develop erectile dysfunction as men with a 32 inch waist. Another study found that increasing the waist size by four inches was enough to experience a 75% chance of lower testosterone levels. Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone that drives libido and sexual desire, in addition to regulating sexual function. Lower levels of testosterone often lead to erectile dysfunction.
Can Weight Loss Help?
Fortunately, losing weight can help to improve overall health and erectile health.
For proof, over 100 obese men experiencing erectile dysfunction participated in a two-year study on the topic. The average age of the men was 43.5 and the average BMI was almost 37, indicating severe obesity. The men were randomly split into two groups with one receiving regular counseling, meetings with a nutritionist, and a personal trainer. The other group was given basic written instructions with tips on losing weight.
By simply eating 300 fewer calories a day and increasing their weekly exercise, men in the first group lost an average of 33 pounds, decreased their BMI to an average of 31.2, reduced oxidative and inflammatory damage, and increased their self-esteem. As a result, 31% of these men had full restoration of their erectile function.
The men in the other group lost an average of less than five pounds, had an average BMI of 35.7, and only 5% experienced restored erectile function.
Another study focused on testosterone levels and weight loss. The results showed that men who lost weight due to increased exercise and an improved diet showed a significant increase in testosterone levels and decrease in depression when compared to men given a placebo and medication.
How To Safely Lose Weight
Losing weight can substantially reduce the symptoms of erectile dysfunction, but it may take some time before the results are enough to make a difference. In the meantime, using medications like sildenafil (Viagra®) or tadalafil (Cialis®) can be a simple way to restore your sex life.
Losing weight can be a journey, especially for those who are severely obese. Some things a physician may recommend:
- Eat a balanced diet. This includes whole foods, lean proteins, lots of fruits and vegetables, and some whole grains. For many men, it may also mean fewer carbohydrates. Try to avoid sugars, starches, sodium, and processed foods as much as possible.
- Increase your exercise. Take care not to overdo it at first, as going from a sedentary lifestyle to frequent and vigorous exercise can result in injuries. Work your way up to a mix of weightlifting and cardio (anaerobic exercise and aerobic alike). Start with 75 minutes of exercise a week and improve to 150 and more as your stamina and strength increase.
- Drink more water. Water can help to get you the feeling of being full and lower the amount of food you're eating. Caffeine, in moderation, is known to boost metabolism and may help in curbing the appetite.
- Get enough sleep. Sleep is heavily tied to weight gain as sleeping disorders typically result in lower metabolism and overeating. Increasing exercise should help you to get deeper and more rewarding sleep.
The Takeaway: Losing weight is one of the most effective and best ways to prevent erectile dysfunction from occurring and for treating ED.
When it comes to treating the symptoms of erectile dysfunction, prescription ED medications are the most effective immediate approach; they work for the majority of men.
But they're not a permanent cure and have no preventive effect on erectile dysfunction. Losing weight is one of the best ways to treat current erectile dysfunction and possibly prevent it from happening in the future.
Rex MD helps guys of all types get ED medications from home, if approved, all done virtually. Get started and see for yourself if ED meds are right for you.
