It’s safe to assume that many of us strive to drop our excess weight for a variety of reasons. One of those is erectile dysfunction (ED). Not only does a constantly-growing waistline not look good on you –– it also raises your risk for all kinds of serious medical conditions, not to mention ED.
One thing that people should understand about ED is that it’s often a symptom of poor blood circulation and cardiovascular health. That includes the inability to produce or keep an erection hard enough for pleasurable sex because of being overweight.
Does carrying belly fat cause ED per se?
As we mentioned, many health issues can heighten your risk of developing ED, and being overweight –– or worse, obese –– is one of the main risk factors associated with sexual dysfunction.
Ultimately, optimal erectile function relies on 1) sexual desire and 2) healthy, efficient blood flow to the penis, which is what enables you to produce an erection when you’re in a state of sexual arousal.
The body’s central nervous system releases neurotransmitters in the penis’ erectile tissue when you’re sexually aroused and stimulated, producing a chemical reaction that opens up your blood vessels that enhances blood flow.
As the penile tissue becomes engorged with blood, it becomes harder, giving you a firm erection for vigorous, pleasurable penetrative sex.
The erection process is an intricate process involving a variety of your body’s physiological systems behind the scenes, such as:
- The endocrine system. The endocrine system is responsible for hormone production. In particular, the endocrine system is responsible for producing testosterone, which regulates your libido.
- The nervous system. The nervous system is responsible for facilitating communication between your brain, circulatory system, and reproductive system, processing the stimuli and information it receives from the billions of nerve cells found throughout the body to trigger the erection reaction when you’re sexually stimulated.
- The circulatory system. The network of blood vessels is responsible for providing your organs, cells, and tissues with blood, allowing you to get an erection.
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That said, if you’re overweight or obese, it can alter or impede the optimal function of any one of these interconnected systems in a variety of ways, which could result in you running into difficulty obtaining and keeping an erection when you’re aroused.
For instance, high levels of body fat are known risks for low testosterone levels in the body. Low testosterone is thought to affect your libido, causing you to feel a lack of interest in engaging in sexual activity.
Obesity also hinders your nervous system from performing at its best. For instance, the link between being overweight and a higher likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes –– a common cause of ED –– is well-established by scientific research.
Being obese or overweight is also closely linked to a host of cardiovascular health issues, such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Excessive fat around the abdomen or the waistline has been shown to be detrimental to cardiovascular function and health.
Obesity is therefore a major risk factor for ED –– one study published in a Polish medical journal back in 2014 linked a higher incidence of ED in men with body mass index values in the obese or overweight range.
The study’s authors determined that being overweight or obese contributed to the likelihood of developing ED at a much higher incidence than aging –– the latter being widely thought by many as THE primary ED risk factor to look out for.
In a nutshell, while being obese or overweight doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get ED, it remains a major risk factor that can and will have a tangible effect on your sexual health and function.
What are some other common causes of ED besides being overweight or obese?
It’s not just obesity that may increase your ED risk. Here are some other medical conditions that may cause ED as far as physical causes are concerned:
- Atherosclerosis (the buildup of arterial plaque, which impedes blood flow)
- Cardiovascular diseases
- High blood pressure
- Chronic illnesses involving the nervous system such as multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Renal (kidney) disease
- Metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes
- Peyronie’s disease
- Trauma to the penis, prostate, spinal column, or bladder
- Complications arising from surgery or medical treatment, such as treatment for prostate cancer
Certain medicines, particularly those used to treat the aforementioned medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, may contribute to or exacerbate ED symptoms. For instance, your ED symptoms may be worse if you’re on antihypertensive medications to treat high blood pressure, or antidepressants used to treat mental or hormonal health concerns.
Mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression, including sexual performance anxiety, can all cause ED. Many of these risk factors for ED can be worsened by being overweight or obese.
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The final word on managing erectile dysfunction (ED)
Erectile dysfunction is a common sexual health condition affecting millions of men all over the world that can arise for a bevy of reasons, chief among them being obese or overweight, consuming a high-fat, high-sodium diet, and lack of regular physical activity.
Losing weight and making healthier lifestyle choices can go a long way in helping you boost your erectile and sexual health, besides enhancing your overall health. This includes a reduced likelihood of developing serious medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or other sexual dysfunctions.
