Carrying excess weight can not only be destructive to your health and body image but to your sex life as well. Whether you are married, in a relationship, or looking to start dating, regaining your health by losing weight can be a positive step for your personal satisfaction and improved intimacy with a significant other.
The Problem with Excess Weight
At the same time that excess weight is doing damage to your heart, liver, and bones, it is also linked with poor circulation, dwindling testosterone levels, and type 2 diabetes, all of which can lead to erectile dysfunction in men and reduced arousal in women.
Beyond biology, excess weight can construct a literal wall between you and your partner by making movement more difficult. In a society focused on body image, it can be difficult to maintain self-esteem when battling the stigma surrounding obesity. Without the confidence necessary to engage in healthy relationship dynamics, it is common to either avoid intimacy, suffer unsatisfying sexual encounters, or to even engage in destructive relationships that border on mental, emotional, and even physical abuse.
What Weight Loss Surgery Can Do
On the bright side, losing weight, particularly through bariatric surgery, has a profound effect on the body’s ability to regain sexual potency. According to a study published by the Journal of Sexual Medicine, obese men who lost 5 to 10 percent of their body weight discovered improved desire.
In addition, multiple studies have linked female sexual pleasure with loss of excess pounds. According to a study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, weight loss surgery has positive effects on the sex lives of women. Post-op, participants experienced improved lubrication, arousal, and desire in the bedroom, as well as more balanced hormone levels. Researchers also noted that participants reported improved body image and increased satisfaction in their relationships after surgery.
Why are women and men feeling sexier after losing weight? There are two parts to this answer. One is that increased health equals better physical and mental functioning, leading to improvements in all aspects of being. The other is that feeling desirable translates into a higher libido, and a higher libido translates into more sex. The more sex one has, the higher their libido, thus fueling a cycle of satisfying sexual encounters that can strengthen a relationship over time.
Roadblocks
Occasionally, making a massive change for the better can be met with some resistance by one’s partner. Diet saboteurs, who may or may not be aware of their motivations, can seek to discourage weight loss attempts due to their own jealousy or fear of rejection after you have lost weight and gained confidence. However, keep in mind that your own satisfaction will benefit your relationship with your partner, and that the happier and healthier you are, the happier and healthier you will be with them.
If you and your partner want to engage in more satisfying sex, losing weight may be a key component. Be sure to make your health and well-being a priority, and soon you’ll be enjoying increased connection in and out of the bedroom.