The bigger a man’s waistline grows, the likelier he is to experience sexual dysfunction and frequent urination, according to new research.
Obesity has already been linked to a host of health problems, but the study, conducted at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, shows that weight causes other issues as well.
"The findings demonstrate that obesity in men — part of a growing global epidemic — affects their well-being in profound ways," lead researcher Dr. Steven Kaplan said in a statement. “We have to think of the body in a much more holistic way. What we eat can have devastating consequences on more than just our hearts. Quality of life issues, such as sexual and voiding health, can be affected as well in drastic ways."
The study also showed that the effects of obesity on sexual dysfunction and urination can be corrected. Losing 2.5 inches in waist size may have a positive effect.
In the study, Kaplan and a team of researchers followed 409 men ranging in age from 40 to 91. Among the group, 37.5 percent had a waist size of less than 36 inches, 33.5 percent had waists of 36 to 40 inches, and 29 percent had waists greater than 40 inches.
When surveying the men about their sex lives, 74.5 percent of men with the largest waist sizes reported erectile dysfunction, while the figures were 50 percent in the mid-range group and 32 percent in the slimmest group.
