How Weight Loss Can Treat Erectile Dysfunction
3 Ways Losing the Weight Will Help Cure ED
It’s no secret that being overweight has many negative side effects to the body. Aside from an increase in the risk for heart disease and other ailments, the extra weight plays a big role in erectile dysfunction.
According to WebMd, “an estimated four out of five men with ED have BMIs (body mass indexes) greater than 25”, and “…overweight men with BMIs of 28.7 (that’s about 195 pounds for a 5’9″ male) have a 30% greater risk for developing ED than normal-weight men.”
Simply put, the more overweight you are, the more likely erectile dysfunction will affect you.
The most common approach, it seems, to tackle ED is either drugs or surgery. However, you may not need to take such drastic measures after all. The cure may be found in simply shedding the extra weight.
Losing weight can drastically change many aspects of your physical health. Here are three ways it specifically helps with ED.
- Improves cardiovascular health
Carrying around extra weight makes your cardiovascular system work harder than it is supposed to. It also contributes to high blood pressure and clogged arteries, and not just the ones around the heart. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, for every additional one-point increase in body mass index (BMI), the risk of heart failure goes up by about 5% for men.
Basically, the more overweight you are, the higher your risk of heart failure. Also, with extra weight comes a decrease in blow flow, which leads to erectile problems. As you lose weight, your blood pressure improves and as well as your artery health. This means better blood flow throughout your body, including your sex organs.
- Improves testosterone levels
Excess weight on the body also effects hormone levels, specifically testosterone. Sex drive and performance are directly linked to testosterone levels. The more overweight someone is, the less testosterone they produce. The lower the testosterone, the lower the sex drive. Combine that with the cardiovascular issues like poor blood flow, and erectile dysfunction happens easily.
As you lose weight, and especially as you begin to exercise more, the body produces more testosterone. With increases in testosterone comes an increase in sex drive.
- Improves confidence and self-esteem
One of the often-overlooked aspects of erectile dysfunction is self-esteem. When you are overweight, the effects can be not just physical, but mental. Excess bodyfat contributes to poor body image. Losing weight can provide a huge psychological boost that can play a major role in sexual performance.
Not only that, but when you lose weight you simply feel better. You have a more positive outlook, not just on your body, but life in general. This increase in confidence and uptock in positivity can directly affect sex drive and performance.
Before you consider drugs or surgery, you may simply need to shed the excess weight on your body. Talk to your doctor about a diet and exercise plan that will work for you. Even small improvements in your weight health can make a big difference in your sexual health.
