We all know that being overweight comes with its fair share of problems, but how does being obese impact your sex life? From reduced stamina to a decrease in the quality of your erections, you might find a few reasons to kickstart your health journey in the following blog . Let’s take a look.
What is Obesity?
If we stick purely to medical terms, for someone to be considered obese they need to have a BMI of more than 30. For a person to be considered Morbidly Obese, their BMI must be over 40. However, it’s worth pointing out that the BMI system isn’t infallible; it doesn’t take into consideration things like muscle mass or body composition, and isn’t necessarily the best way to measure your health.
And we’d also just like to add that we’re not passing any judgment here – we’ve all had ups and downs with our weight and overindulged from time to time. All we’re simply doing is giving you a run-down of all the up-to-date information that’s out there, so that if you do decide to tackle your weight, you know you’ll be reaping benefits both in and out of your new clothes.
How Does Obesity Affect the Body?
So, if you do end up being categorized as obese, how might that affect your body, in particular in relation to your sex life?
Hormonal Imbalances
One of the most significant ways that being overweight disrupts your sex life is by disrupting your hormones. Testosterone, aka your manly mojo juice, takes a nosedive when you’re overweight – this is due to an increase in the production of a protein called sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). This protein attaches itself to testosterone, making it less available for its usual duties, like fueling your sex drive and keeping your erections rock-hard.
Circulatory Issues
Obesity can also cause issues with circulation, and if the blood can’t get down to your member because of blockages in your arteries, you might struggle to produce the strong erections that you’d be capable of at a healthier weight.
Fertility Problems
If you’re trying to have a baby, obesity can also throw a wrench in the works. Again, it’s all about hormones; if your body is unable to regulate key hormones like testosterone, you can end up with a lower sperm count and reduced sperm quality, in turn making it harder for you to create a little mini-you.
How Does Being Obese Affect Sex?
Aside from impacting the bodily functions that allow sex to actually happen, being obese can also impact the emotional and psychological journey you go through before things go down:
Reduced Libido
When your hormones are out of whack, you might find that you have an unreliable sex drive – sometimes you’re up for it, other times you’d rather just sit in front of the TV. In some cases, where your testosterone levels are largely impacted, your libido can disappear altogether.
Body Confidence Problems
There’s no two ways about it – we just don’t feel as sexy when we know we’ve put on weight. Now it’s important to make a distinction here – skinny doesn’t equal sexy. We all have an ideal weight where we feel at our best – and for you that might be a couple of extra lbs or a dad bod. But if your body confidence leads you to withdraw from sex, you might want to consider making some lifestyle changes so you can get back down to business, and actually feel confident doing so.
Preventive Measures and Long-term Solutions
What’s important to remember is that you can always decide to put your health on the right path, no matter how long you’ve been obese. And it doesn’t involve selling your soul or giving up all earthly pleasures, either.
Sustainable Lifestyle Changes
It’s time to make friends with vegetables. We know, we know, but hear us out. While you don’t have to abandon your favorite treats entirely – everything in moderation – giving priority to food that is effective for weight loss (such as veggies, fruit, grains, and lean proteins) will make the lb-shedding process simpler.
And while you’re on your weight loss journey, there’s no reason you can’t still enjoy sex! Even if your erections don’t feel as powerful as they used to be when you were at a healthier weight, you can use tools to remedy this.
We’d recommend a penis pump: our dick pumps use vacuum technology to draw blood flow into your shaft and keep it there for longer, meaning increased stamina and a harder dick. Take a look at our penis pump before and after pictures if you’re still not convinced.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, while being obese can present significant hurdles in your sex life, remember that losing weight is always an option. It takes time, effort, and sacrificing a couple of your favorite foods – at least for a while. But the rewards? From feeling confident in your skin and returning your status as dynamo in the bedroom, the hard work is worth it.
