It’s easy to get discouraged about losing weight. But we’ve got a great incentive for you -- a better sex life! A recent study found that two years after obese women had bariatric surgery, many of those who lost around one-third of their pre-surgery weight reported heightened sexual responses -- not to mention a better quality of life and improved hormone levels. That helped them sustain their weight loss -- or lose even more. And that… well it’s an ongoing cycle of rewards! Guys, the sexual benefits of weight loss are just as true for you (80% of men with erectile dysfunction are overweight or obese). But you don’t necessarily have to undergo surgery to achieve weight loss and gain these benefits.
Related: Natural remedies for ED.
Adopting a healthy-weight lifestyle that includes walking 10,000 steps daily, eliminating the Five Food Felons (any grain that isn’t 100% whole, all added sugars and sugar syrups and trans and saturated fats) and making sure you eat nine servings of fruit and vegetables a day can help you lose around one pound a week and improve your sexual health. (You’ll find it easier to stick with your physical activity routine and nutritional plan if you have pal to walk with and a foodie partner check in with.)
Related: Lose belly fat, improve your sex life.
Healthy weight loss will help you shed a poor body image (proven to dampen sexual desire), regain energy (you’ll move around more easily, your heart functions better) and improve your self-confidence -- a very appealing quality. You’ll see pounds disappear --and stay off, while you get it on!
Medically reviewed in May 2019.