In another study, also conducted in Italy, 32 percent of obese men who lost a modest 5 percent of their body weight — usually less than 20 pounds — reported improvement in sexual function. Also, a recent study conducted in Australia involving 31 obese men with Type 2 diabetes concluded that losing 5 to 10 percent of their body weight improved sexual desire as well as erectile function.
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If a man feels a decline in sexual interest, why not just supplement his flagging testosterone levels with one of the products now available for "low T? A new study finds that prescriptions for the heavily advertised androgen gels and patches have more than tripled since in men over 40, and 25 percent of the men did not even bother to have a blood test to confirm low testosterone. And when Australian physician Gary Wittert, of the University of Adelaide, lead author of the Australian study mentioned above, recently solicited males at risk of developing diabetes for a study that included free testosterone injections, he got responses in one day.
One bright spot he observed in his data: "Regular sexual activity tends to increase testosterone. Subscribe Manage my subscription Activate my subscription Log in Log out. Regions Tampa St.
Erectile Dysfunction? Modest Weight Loss Can Help - Diabetes Self-Management
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Erectile function was assessed by completing questions 1 to 5 on the International Index of Erectile Function IIEF , which is a multidimensional questionnaire. The IIEF score represents the sum of questions 1 to 5, with a maximum score of 25; a score of 21 or less indicates erectile dysfunction.
We assessed men with IIEF scores lower than 22 to determine eligibility. These men had no evidence of participation in diet reduction programs within the last 6 months and had completed a health and medical history questionnaire, which served as a screening tool. The study was approved by the institutional committee of ethical practice at the Second University of Naples. Participants provided informed written consent for voluntary, unpaid participation.
Men were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group using a computer-generated random number sequence Figure 1. Allocation was concealed in sealed study folders that were maintained at a central, secure location until after informed consent was obtained.
The nurses who scheduled the study visits did not have access to the randomization list. However, the staff members involved in the intervention had to be aware of the group assignment; thus, the study was only partially blinded. Laboratory staff did not know the participants' group assignments. The program consisted of instruction regarding reducing caloric intake, setting goals, and self-monitoring food diaries through a series of monthly small group sessions. Behavioral and psychological counseling was also offered.
The mean daily caloric intake was kcal for the first year and kcal for the second year. Dietary advice was tailored to each man on the basis of food records collected on 3 nonconsecutive days and completed the week before the meeting with the nutritionist.
Erectile Dysfunction? Modest Weight Loss Can Help
These men also received individual guidance on increasing their level of physical activity, mainly walking, but also swimming or aerobic games ie, football, baseball, soccer. Men were in the program for 2 years. They had monthly sessions with the nutritionist and exercise trainer during the first year and bimonthly sessions during the second year. Compliance with the program was assessed by attendance at the meetings and completion of the food diaries. Men in the control group were given general oral and written information about healthy food choices and exercise at baseline and at subsequent bimonthly visits, but no specific individualized program was provided.
Height and weight were recorded with participants wearing lightweight clothing and no shoes using a Seca scale Seca, Hamburg, Germany with attached stadiometer. Waist-to-hip ratio WHR was calculated as waist circumference in centimeters divided by hip circumference in centimeters. Twenty-four hour nutrient intakes were calculated with food-composition tables and patients' weekly food diaries. All men were asked to complete a record of food intake for 3 days to assess dietary adherence and to record occupational, household, and leisure-time physical activity to assess exercise activity.
Foods were measured using standard measuring cups and spoons and weight-approximation diagrams. No participants in either group took any drug specific for erectile dysfunction at baseline exclusion criterion ; however, if during the course of the study there was a need for such use, this was discussed and recorded.
Endothelial function was assessed with the L -arginine test, as previously described. Blood pressure and platelet aggregation response to 1. L -arginine mimics some of the effects of nitric oxide, including vasodilatation and antiplatelet activity; because the vascular effects of L -arginine are thought to derive from metabolic conversion to nitric oxide, the L -arginine test has been used for evaluating endothelial function.
Assays for serum levels of total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose were performed in the hospital's chemistry laboratory. Plasma insulin levels were assayed by radioimmunoassay Ares, Serono, Italy. In our laboratory, the medians interquartile ranges for these values were 2. These values are based on 50 healthy, nonobese men who were matched to obese men for age and metabolic characteristics.
Data are presented as mean SD unless otherwise indicated and were analyzed using the intention-to-treat principle. We compared risk factors and nutrient intake after 2 years using a t test based on the values at the end of follow-up and a t test based on differences from baseline. Results of the analysis omitting patients lost during follow-up did not differ from that including the last available records; data are therefore shown for the analysis that includes all men as randomized. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to quantify the relationships between metabolic variables and cytokine levels.
The effects of intervention on IIEF score, indices of endothelial function, and cytokine levels were tested by means of paired t tests and a Wilcoxon matched test. Multivariate regression analysis tested the independent association and contribution of changes in BMI, WHR, physical activity, indices of endothelial function, and plasma cytokine concentrations with the dependent variable changes in IIEF score , and also included baseline IIEF score as a covariate. All analysis were conducted using SPSS statistical software version 9.
Both groups were comparable and relatively healthy Table 1. All men were obese, with BMI values ranging from 30 to The mean erectile function score was also comparable between groups with values ranging from 7 to 19 in the intervention group and from 7 to 20 in the control group. Univariate correlations are provided, but they were scarcely affected by adjustment for age. After 2 years of follow-up, there were 3 dropouts in the intervention group and 3 in the control group, all of which occurred after 24 weeks of follow-up.
Dropouts from the intervention group showed a decrease in body weight after 24 weeks of follow-up, suggesting that they were adhering to the lifestyle changes. Five men in the control group and 4 in the intervention group used pharmacological therapy for erectile dysfunction phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors during the course of the study; however, excluding these men in the analysis did not affect the results, and therefore data are pooled for all participants.
Baseline data showed no important difference in nutrient intake between the 2 groups Table 3. After 2 years, patients in the intervention group compared with the control group consumed a greater percentage of calories from complex carbohydrates, protein, and monounsaturated fat; had a greater intake of fiber; had a lower ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids; and had lower intakes of total calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol Table 3. After 2 years, men in the intervention group had significant decreases in body weight, BMI, WHR, blood pressure, levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol and triglycerides, but a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol Table 4.
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There was no significant change in these parameters among men in the control group Table 4. Serum concentrations of IL-6 and CRP were significantly reduced in the intervention group compared with the control group. Though the idea of weight loss can be overwhelming, the rules are actually simple. First, take a look at how much you eat. Ideally, aim to lose 1 or 2 pounds a week, which means cutting out to 1, calories each day.
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That's right - it's time to read those dreaded nutrition labels. Next, watch whatyou eat. Get rid of those chips and dips and cozy up to some greens and other raw veggies when you want to snack. Ditch the red and processed meats and try a fish filet instead. Switch up your white bread and pasta for some whole grains.
Italian researchers found that thesediet principles - the basis for the healthful Mediterranean diet - are very effective in improving ED in people with obesity. Last, but not least, get a move on. Physical activity is a must for any successful weight-loss strategy. The numbers speak for themselves: Highly active men have 30 percent less risk for ED than couch potatoes.
Don't have time? Just skip a few episodes of your favorite TV shows and get active for 30 to 45 minutes, 3 to 5 days a week.