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Obesity & Sexual Health
Research has indicated that for many women, when they feel "overweight,"
they feel like sexual misfits, unattractive and undesirable. They withdraw from
trying to attract partners, and from communicating or asserting themselves in
both potential relationships and in actual
sexual relationships. They often allow their body size to affect their
self-esteem in other areas as well. The shame they feel can affect their
self-esteem, the way they dress, move, eat, and respond to a sexual partner.
With the deposition of large amounts of
fat in
various regions of the body women are left to suffer with problems such as
trouble obtaining
orgasm or pain during intercourse. The final result is quitting from sexual
activities totally. This may manifest as reduced
sexual desire and lack of self-esteem in sexual relationships.
Research findings
General results from recent studies show that:
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Obese individuals report higher incidences of sexual difficulties due to
their weight (lack of sexual enjoyment, lack of sexual desire, difficulty
with sexual performance, and avoidance of sexual encounters)
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A higher
BMI is associated with a greater impairment in sexual quality of life
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Sexual quality of life is impaired in obese women more than in obese
men, possibly because women place a greater importance on
body image. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to have problems
with sexual performance.
Tips to Manage Sexual Dysfunction
Shedding about ten pounds of weight initiates the secretion of sex hormones
very rapidly.
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Accept Your Body as a Gift: Replace bad habits and ways of
thinking with new, more productive habits. Improve your self-esteem and
promote your self-acceptance to overcome some of your
sexual problems. Feel good about small things in your life and count
your moments of happiness.
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Get you Problem assessed by the Right Doctor: Ensure that the
problem is adequately assessed. Doctors can help you by screening for sexual
problems and discussing this sensitive topic with you. Remember that
problems with sexual identity and function are common in both obese and
non-obese people. Try not to let embarrassment stop you from receiving the
proper care. Good communication, understanding and a strong doctor-patient
relationship are important for your treatment.
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Opt for Sexual Therapy: Therapies like, Sexual Communication and
Assertiveness, have shown that large women, due to diminished sexual
self-esteem and lack of experience, often have difficulty asserting their
needs and communicating with their partners about sexual issues (Shapiro,
1980; Spiegel, 1988; Yohannon, 1996). Tullman, G.M., Gilner, Kolodny,
Dornbush, and Tullman, G.D. (1981) measured the communication skills of 43
couples undergoing sex therapy at the Masters and Johnson Institute, both
before and after therapy. "Results showed that the females exhibited
significant increases across the 2-week period of therapy for the following
skills: positive assertion in intimate heterosexual peer relationships,
assertiveness, verbal expression of feelings, tolerance for the less
pleasant aspects of the loved one, and nonmaterial support and evidence of
love�. These results lend empirical support to Masters and Johnson's
theoretical model of communication and to the view that much more than
simple behavior therapy is involved in a successful sex therapy program."
(pp. 95,96) Although the participants in this study were not specifically
obese, the results can be extrapolated to obese couples.
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 Medical Solution: Attempt to reduce body size and include drugs,
surgeries and
dieting
(some form of reduced eating, or restricted fat, calories, sugar or
carbohydrates). These methods have the advantage of working relatively
quickly to reduce body image dysphoria.
Adequate
weight loss can be an effective way to improve your sexual quality of
life. Not only does it lead to health benefits, but it can improve your
self-esteem, general well-being and quality of life.
Research into the effects of obesity treatments on sexuality is currently
limited. It is thought that weight loss can improve sexual function and overall
quality of life. Some studies have shown that the majority of women who
underwent
gastric banding enjoyed sex more after surgery than before, and that some
found their relationships improved. However, sexual function can worsen after
surgery, due to identity issues, new relationship demands, distorted body image,
excess
flabby skin and abdominal skin overhang. Research has confirmed that
non-surgical weight loss techniques improve arousal, orgasm,
lubrication, and sexual satisfaction in women.
Obesityy
can also be related to sexuality in the reverse fashion. If you have had
problems with your sexuality or have been the victim of sexual abuse, you may
turn to binge or comfort eating to help deal with your experiences.
In another study (to identify the frequency of sexual dysfunction ((FSD)
among obese women.) it was found that % 60 of obese patients and % 50 of
controls had FSD. Although obesity does not seem to be a major contribute to
sexual dysfunction, it affects several aspects of sexuality (satisfaction,
orgasm). As there are not enough studies investigating female sexual function in
obesity, further studies with larger number of patients are necessary.
Ref
Dated 20 April 2015
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