Andrology, more virile without the extra pounds

In addition to aesthetic problems, overweight and obesity represent a risk factor not to be underestimated for erectile dysfunction.

Science has long supported it: overweight and obesity increase the likelihood of experiencing various health problems, from heart attack to type 2 diabetes, from high blood pressure to respiratory problems, up to tumors.

For men there is an additional problem: several studies have shown a worrying association between excess weight and erectile dysfunction.

It has also been shown that, in obese people, any change in lifestyles that results in weight loss, even partial, improves sexual function.

Psychological and organic causes

Why does an excessive waistline reverberate on the mechanisms of erection? According to experts, at the origin there are two factors to keep in mind: a psychological component, linked to the feeling of shame that they feel (especially the obese) towards their body.

And then an organic component, involving the metabolic endocrine system and blood vessels. In fact, adipose tissue modifies several vascular parameters that intervene in the natural mechanism of erection.

In addition, obese people often have low levels of testosterone in their blood. In fact, this hormone regulates, among other things, sexual desire, which tends to disappear in parallel with its significant decrease.

Unfortunately, overweight is often accompanied by an increase in blood sugar and it is well known that one in three diabetic patients also suffers from erectile dysfunction. And alarm bells for good sexual health are also hypertension and lipid alterations , such as high cholesterol.

Optimal cholesterol levels are shown in the table below:

To lose weight, put in the effort… with some easy rules!

Get moving. The first rule is to do regular physical activity. Choose the one you like best and try to find time to do at least two or three times a week some exercise.

Less rich dishes. You can start by reducing the portions of the different foods you bring to the table by a quarter, with the exception of vegetables, which are low in calories and give a sense of satiety.

Do not skip meals. Those who want to lose weight are often tempted to skip a meal, usually lunch, with the idea of reducing caloric intake. It is very wrong, because you arrive in the evening hungry and it is difficult not to binge.

Three meals plus two. Divide the day into three regular meals, interspersed with two light snacks. Forget snacks, better fruit and yogurt.

Avoid fats. Forget butter and cheese: they have a high calorie content, almost all contain too much cholesterol, with a low satiating power.

Fruits and especially vegetables. They are good for many aspects of the body, have few calories and above all a high fiber content, so they make you feel “full” faster.

Little wine, no spirits. A third of a liter per day of wine is the limit not to be exceeded.