Obesity is apart of metabolic syndrome- a constellation of diseases like hypertension, deranged lipid profile,hyperuricemia,diabetes etc.
There has been a global trend in decrease in infectious disease prevalence and rise in cardiovascular disease and diabetes( Metabolic syndrome). So much so that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is slated to be around 25% in US and around 20% in India.
The obese people have a higher incidence of sexual dysfunction. The obese people have 69% less likelihood of having more than one sexual partner as compared to their normal counterparts. Obese people also have 2 1/2 times more chances of having erectile problems than their normal counterparts.
There have been several theories for those:
There have been several theories for those:
1) In obesity ; the endothelial dysfunction often coexist. The presence of inflammatory cytokines and choletsreol damages the endothelium.The endothelial dysfunction manifests in the penile vessels early as the diameter of the penile vessel is small. The final result is erectile dysfunction.It has been noted that the endothelial dysfunction resulting in erectile dysfunction precedes heart disease by 7-10 years.
2)Depression:
The obese people are often depressed because of the body image. Sometimes depression as such leads to erratic eating patterns and hence increased body weight gain. The medications used in depression also leads to weight gain. Psychological factors can decrease the sexual performance. Sexual disturbances like premature ejaculation and inability to sustain erection can occur.
3) Hormonal alterations:
Obesity leads to hormonal alteration in the form of decreased testosterone and oestrogen ratio because of peripheral conversion of testosterone into oestrogen in body fat. If thyroid hormone abnormalities coexist then the effect of these hormonal alterations confound the sexual dysfunction. Low testosterone can result in low libido.
4)Altered body image:
The altered body image can decrease the interest of the spouse in sex.Also increased sweating, leading to smell and yeast infections around the groins and genitals can create repulsive feelings for sex in both the partners. The obese person sometimes starts to keep himself away from sex thinking that sex has become too unpleasant for the spouse.
All these things can start a vicious cycle resulting in more and more sexual dysfunction.
Management:
The people should know how to calculate their own BMI.As per the BMI it is easier to categorise the population according to their extra weight.
The following website can be accessed to find out the BMI.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm
The BMI between 25 to 29.9 comes under the category of overweight while more than 30 is called as obese.
Once somebody comes under the obese category it is better to seek the consultation f4rom the general physician to rule out any underlying disorder for the increased weight gain like thyroid hormone abnormalities. Any co-existing factors of metabolic syndrome like hypertension and deranged lipid profile should be duly treated.
Life style modification:
It is very essential to burn the calories and change the dietary habbits.Eating healthy meals is necessary.
A dietician can help to offer the person a better diet to fight with the extra calories without starving( which is unhealthy and at times can prove to be dangerous).Regular exercise / Yoga /Pranayama can help the person to burn extra calories and gets his body rejuvenated.
The obese people should be motivated to do regular aerobic activity and sometimes it is essential to forewarn them for relying on drugs like Viagra( which will prove to be temporary) and not eradicating the root cause for sexual dysfunction.
Treatment of sexual dysfunction and depression:
It is often necessary to lift the morale of obese person withy sexual dysfunction with the medications like PDE-5 inhibitors to instil the confidence. Any coexisting depression/anxiety should be treated. It is essential to stop the vicious cycle of depression, shame, stress overeating, worsening of parameters of metabolic syndrome and worsening of overall and sexual health.
Sex therapy:
Couple therapy is essential . Obese people have difficulty in performing sex so proper sexual positions should be advocated.As the prepubic fat can result in buried penis ; there can be physical problems because of apparently small penis and belly fat.
2)Depression:
The obese people are often depressed because of the body image. Sometimes depression as such leads to erratic eating patterns and hence increased body weight gain. The medications used in depression also leads to weight gain. Psychological factors can decrease the sexual performance. Sexual disturbances like premature ejaculation and inability to sustain erection can occur.
3) Hormonal alterations:
Obesity leads to hormonal alteration in the form of decreased testosterone and oestrogen ratio because of peripheral conversion of testosterone into oestrogen in body fat. If thyroid hormone abnormalities coexist then the effect of these hormonal alterations confound the sexual dysfunction. Low testosterone can result in low libido.
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| THE DIAGRAM SHOWING HOW OBESITY,VASCULAR DISEASE,LOW TESTOSTERONE AND ERECTLE DYSFUNCTION ARE LINKED TO EACHOTHER |
4)Altered body image:
The altered body image can decrease the interest of the spouse in sex.Also increased sweating, leading to smell and yeast infections around the groins and genitals can create repulsive feelings for sex in both the partners. The obese person sometimes starts to keep himself away from sex thinking that sex has become too unpleasant for the spouse.
All these things can start a vicious cycle resulting in more and more sexual dysfunction.
Management:
The people should know how to calculate their own BMI.As per the BMI it is easier to categorise the population according to their extra weight.
The following website can be accessed to find out the BMI.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm
The BMI between 25 to 29.9 comes under the category of overweight while more than 30 is called as obese.
Once somebody comes under the obese category it is better to seek the consultation f4rom the general physician to rule out any underlying disorder for the increased weight gain like thyroid hormone abnormalities. Any co-existing factors of metabolic syndrome like hypertension and deranged lipid profile should be duly treated.
Life style modification:
It is very essential to burn the calories and change the dietary habbits.Eating healthy meals is necessary.
A dietician can help to offer the person a better diet to fight with the extra calories without starving( which is unhealthy and at times can prove to be dangerous).Regular exercise / Yoga /Pranayama can help the person to burn extra calories and gets his body rejuvenated.
Treatment of sexual dysfunction and depression:
It is often necessary to lift the morale of obese person withy sexual dysfunction with the medications like PDE-5 inhibitors to instil the confidence. Any coexisting depression/anxiety should be treated. It is essential to stop the vicious cycle of depression, shame, stress overeating, worsening of parameters of metabolic syndrome and worsening of overall and sexual health.
Sex therapy:
Couple therapy is essential . Obese people have difficulty in performing sex so proper sexual positions should be advocated.As the prepubic fat can result in buried penis ; there can be physical problems because of apparently small penis and belly fat.
Thanks for sharing the information about the obesity and sex . Most of the people feel uncomfortable at the time of intercourse . this is due to extra fat and too much healthy . people have need to take regular exercise and good eating habit .
ReplyDeleteErection Problem Treatment,Men sexual disorder treatment,Sexual Dysfunction in Male,
Calculate your BMI by using our Body mass index Calculator for adults & children. Calculated by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. BMI Calculator
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