Obesity and Sexuality

Obesity is emerging as one of the fastest growing pandemics in modern times.

The adverse effects of obesity on health are, for the most part, well documented.

The consequences for sexual health, however, are less well understood.

Obesity is associated with erectile dysfunction in men, but the evidence in relation to other sexual health outcomes has been equivocal. Some surveys have reported a higher prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among obese people.

To date, there have been no comprehensive population based studies of the impact of overweight and obesity on sexual activity and sexual health outcomes such as sexual satisfaction, unintended pregnancy, and abortion.

French investigators, led by Nathalie Bajos of the CSF Group, analyzed results of a national survey of sexual behaviors in 4635 men and 5535 women (age range, 18–69).

In all, 9% of men and women were obese (body-mass index equal to or greater than 30.0 kg/m²); 21% of women and 35% of men were overweight (BMI, 25.0–29.9).

Among younger women (age range, 18–29), those who were obese were threefold more likely to have met a partner on the Internet and were more likely to have obese partners than were normal-weight women.

Whereas obese men experienced erectile dysfunction at twice the rate reported by normal-weight men, obese women were no more likely than normal-weight women to report sexual dysfunction (e.g., lack of arousal, painful intercourse).

Obese women of all ages were less likely to have seen a clinician for contraception during the past year despite being sexually active; younger obese women were less likely to have used oral contraception at last intercourse, more likely to use withdrawal as a birth control method, and more likely to report unintended pregnancies.

These data confirm prior findings about obesity's effects on erectile dysfunction; interestingly, women's likelihood of sexual dysfunction was unaffected.

The high rate of unintended pregnancy in obese women is most concerning, particularly in light of the complications that obesity brings to pregnancy.

Journal Reference

Bajos N, Wellings K, Laborde C, Moreau C; CSF Group. Sexuality and obesity, a gender perspective: results from French national random probability survey of sexual behaviours. British Medical Journal. 2010 Jun 15;340:c2573.

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