Move Over Viagra, Exercise Can Lead to Better Sex

  July 15, 2004 Naples

Italy - Well, we may have finally found a sure way to get obese middle-aged men into our gyms… better sex.
In this month's publication in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), a recent study was conducted to determine the specific effect of weight loss and increased physical activity on erectile and endothelial (cells lining the inside of blood vessels) functions in obese men. The research, conducted at The Center for Obesity Management at Second University in Naples, Italy, was lead by Dr. Katherine Esposito.

"In our study, about one-third of obese men with erectile dysfunction regained their sexual function after two years of adopting healthy behaviors, mainly regular exercise and reducing weight."
-Research Team at The Center for Obesity Management at Second University in Naples, Italy

It was a randomized, single-blind trial of 110 obese men with an average body mass index (BMI) of 30, aged 35 to 55 years, without diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia, (diseases that are known to cause erectile dysfunction) who had erectile dysfunction (ED). The study was conducted from October 2000 to October 2003 at a university hospital in Italy.

The study concluded that lifestyle changes, in the form of exercise and weight loss, are associated with improved sexual function in about 1/3 of obese men with ED at baseline.
"In our study, about one-third of obese men with erectile dysfunction regained their sexual function after two years of adopting healthy behaviors, mainly regular exercise and reducing weight," they write.

Along with exercising two hours a week, half of the 110 men studied were placed on a calorie-restriction diet in which their average caloric intake dropped from 2,340 to 1,950 calories daily. Their prescribed diet boosted their fiber intake and they substituted saturated fats with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Exercise Can Delay ED for 10 Years

These findings follow a study by Harvard researchers published last year touting exercise, in particular, as a powerful prevention measure against ED. After studying some 31,000 men between ages 55 to 90, the researchers show that men who regularly exercised typically had a 10-year delay in erectile dysfunction compared with more sedentary guys.

Erectile dysfunction occurs more commonly as men age, affecting about 12% of men before age 60. About 20% of men in their 60s are afflicted, and about 30% of men after age 70 suffer from erectile dysfunction.

Viagra Raised the Conscience Level

The introduction of sildenafil (Viagra) in 1998 unleashed a tidal wave of interest in medical treatment for ED. Although data from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study indicated that approximately 52% of men aged 40 to 70 years experienced some degree of ED, many of these men were either unaware of treatment options for the condition, averse to the invasive nature of some of the existing options, or too embarrassed to discuss the topic with a physician.

Pfizer's heavy direct-to-consumer marketing campaign that accompanied the release of this drug contributed to a new, open discussion in popular culture about this highly prevalent condition. By the end of 1999, Viagra was a billion-dollar drug with 2002 global sales of $1.74 billion.

Have a hot date tonight? Buy some flowers and champagne… and hit the gym!

Previous study comparing healthy and cancerous breast tissue in the same patients showed that the virus was only present in the cancerous cells and Melana believes this implies that humans acquire MMTV-like viruses from mice and go on to develop breast cancer although she is far away from proving it. (ANI)