For nearly 30 million men in the United States, impotence is a big fat problem—literally. Research suggests that overweight men have an increased risk of developing impotence, a disorder that affects up to 15 million American men.
Researchers found that men with waistlines of 42 inches were twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction (ED) as men with 32-inch waistlines. A study of nearly 2,000 men age 51 to 88, conducted by Eric Rimm, an associate professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, indicated that more than a third of the participants suffered moderate to severe erectile dysfunction. In addition to weighing more, these men were also likely to be less active and suffer from associated health conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
"Certain lifestyle factors may impede blood flow to the genital area," explains Rimm, "much like factors leading to atherosclerosis [arterial hardening caused by the buildup of fatty substances], or factors that impede blood flow to the heart."
