Obesity Can Hurt Your Sex Life

One oft-quoted piece of folk wisdom says excess weight and obesity can shrink the penis, but this urban legend isn’t quite true. Obesity doesn’t actually make the penis smaller, it just makes the penis look smaller due to pockets of extra fat that surround and obstruct it.

However, the chronic progressive disease of obesity can negatively affect your sex life in many other ways and may eventually contribute to erectile dysfunction (ED).

If you want to take steps to overcome obesity, we have some tips for you, and they might even make your penis look bigger, too.

Obesity overshadows the penis

Weight gain affects each man differently. Men who gain excess weight in their lower abdominal area often tend to have a penis that looks smaller due to the way this pad of fat can surround the shaft of the penis.

In some men who are overweight or obese, the penis may look far smaller in proportion to the amount of excess fat they are carrying. In addition to making the penis look smaller, obesity can make the penis feel smaller. Excess belly fat and excess padding around the shaft of the penis can often prevent the penis from penetrating as deeply as it could if there were no excess fat.

How obesity harms your sex life

Obesity has the potential to affect your sex life beyond appearances. For instance, it can decrease testosterone and increase your risk for high blood pressure and heart disease, which can contribute to problems with your sex life, including infertility and ED.

Obesity can also increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer. While prostate cancer is not a direct cause of erectile dysfunction, the medications used to treat it can lead to temporary penis shrinkage and problems achieving an erection.

Here are other potential effects of obesity on your sex life:

• Low confidence and self-esteem
• Infection and skin problems due to bacteria that grows under folds of excess skin
• Damaged nerve endings in the penis due to excess pressure from surrounding fat
• Low stamina due to excess weight, poor nutrition and lack of exercise

Size matters

If you are overweight or obese, the most effective way to make your penis look bigger is to lose excess weight.

Start exercising regularly, modify your diet and prioritize sleep. If you’ve already tried losing excess weight with diet and exercise and that didn’t work for you, strategize with your doctor to identify the root cause of your obesity. It’s possible you may have an underlying health condition that’s preventing you from losing weight.

It may also help to meet with a fitness trainer or a dietitian who can evaluate your workouts and current diet. A trainer can determine whether you’re using proper form and doing exercises at an ideal intensity level, while a dietitian can confirm whether the foods you’re eating can successfully help you lose excess weight.

Reduce your intake of alcohol or stop drinking altogether, since all types of alcohol contain a high amount of calories.

In the meantime, for cosmetic reasons only, consider trimming your pubic hair to make your penis look bigger in the eyes of you and your sexual partner.

If your self-esteem, sex life and overall health are being affected by obesity, talk with your doctor about steps you can take to lose excess weight. Your doctor can also talk to you about effective treatments for ED, so you can enjoy your sex life on the road to becoming healthier.