Increased Libido a Benefit of Weight Loss for Men

An Australian study found that increased libido is a sexual benefit of weight loss for men. The findings were published online last week in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The study included 31 obese men with type 2 diabetes who were put on reduced-calorie diets in an effort to shed pounds. They were given one of two diet plans – either a liquid meal-replacement twice a day with a balanced meal at dinner, or a diet consisting of high-protein, low-fat, and low-carbohydrate choices.

One of the key findings was that sexual desire, erectile function and urinary symptoms all saw significant improvement in the 31 participants who lost 5—10 percent of their body weight over the 8 week period. Additionally, the researchers saw improvements in blood glucose, insulin sensitivity, and lipid profile for the men, regardless of which of the two diets they were following.

Looking at the results separated by diet plan, the men following the low-calorie diet had lost on average 10% of their body weight at the eight weeks mark, while the men on the high protein diet only lost on average 5% of their body weight. Weight loss at eight weeks averaged nearly 30 pounds with the low-calorie diet and about 12 pounds for men on the high-protein diet. The findings led the researchers to conclude that for diabetic obese men, quick diet-induced weight loss improves sexual, urinary, and endothelial function, and reduces systemic inflammation.

Dr. George Fielding, one of the nation’s leading bariatric surgeons, commented on the study’s findings. He told us: “This recent study on improved male sexual desire and performance highlights a very important, but not much talked about, issue for all obese patients, namely their sexual function. Many patients, even young people, hint at this problem, but it’s usually glossed over.”

“This is an obvious benefit for our weight loss patients, and it can now be discussed with them, with some good scientific background information,” Dr. Fielding concluded.

Research has shown that obesity does not only interfere with the sex life of men: A study published in 2010 found that obese women were 30% less likely than normal-weight women to have had a sexual partner in the last year. You can read more about that study and how obesity affects both sexes here.