SEXUAL PROBLEMS: WEIGHT LOSS
Question: Does dieting to lose weight affect male sexual performance?
Answer: Yes. A well-planned, reduced-calorie diet can enhance a man's sexual performance, whereas a poorly balanced "fad" or "crash" diet can cause temporary impotence.
Being overweight can contribute to impotence by upsetting hormone balance and interfering with circulation. Regular exercise and proper nutrition can help maintain male hormone levels, improve blood flow, and boost mood, which are key to enhancing sexual performance. A good diet contains foods from all food groups and allows for 15-30% of calories from fat. The fat should preferably be the monounsaturated type, which is found in nuts, avocados, olives, and fish. Weight loss should be gradual to be safe: About 1-2 pounds a week is reasonable.
Fad diets that involve periods of fasting, restrict foods from certain food groups, or emphasize one specific food can decrease sexual performance. These diets may give short-term satisfaction by achieving quick initial weight loss, but this loss is hard to maintain. Testosterone levels drop when people are on diets where less than 10% of calories are from fat. Testosterone is the major male hormone, and low levels cause decreased sexual desire. A poorly balanced diet may lack nutrients like calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins. All of these need to be consumed daily to maintain general health and sexual function. Finally, trying to stick to an unsatisfying diet is very stressful psychologically. Psychological stress can play a large role in causing impotence.
