By Professor Alberto Quirantes*
Excess body weight is a challenging situation for the balanced physical and psychological health of every human being.
That is why obesity is a disturbing illness in many aspects for both men and women, and the sexual aspect is no exception.
Not all obese men have sexual problems, and vice versa. However, all obese men have more body fat, which converts peripheral testosterone into estrogen. The more the body fat, the more the change.
Because of the decrease in testosterone, the hormone responsible for awakening the sexual instinct, and an increase in the female hormone estradiol, the libido is reduced and so is the ability to have sexual relations. For these same reasons, and because of other physical factors associated with obesity, a decrease may occur in the normal parameters of sperm, which results in subfertility and even total infertility.
It is considered that the current epidemic of obesity may be contributing to a reduction in the reproductive ability within the Western world.
The resulting consequences of transformation of masculine hormones into feminine ones in obese men also has an influence on physical changes such as less body hair and less sexual appetite, and in psychological ones like less frequent sexual relations and the inability to perceive in them full satisfaction.
In addition, if the person has a poor image of his body, it can lead to stress, depression and low self-esteem, affecting sexual desire.
If the obesity is accompanied by high blood pressure, it can cause erectile dysfunction, and the effects on the body of obesity can also cause prostate damage.
However, diverse studies have demonstrated that all of these changes can be reverted through weight loss, which can potentially restore full fertility and sexual desire.
Lifestyle changes that lead to weight loss, such as a healthy diet and the progressive increase of physical activity have been associated with improved sexual function in men as obesity is reduced.
As they lose weight, they experience improvements in all aspects of sexual function and in many other health-related areas. This can be a strong incentive for fighting obesity.
*Professor of Medicine and Chief of Endocrinology Services, Dr. Salvador Allende Teaching Hospital, Havana, Cuba