Obesity And Sexuality:Relationships Between Body Mass Index(BMI),Testosterone,Body Image,Sexual Desire And Sexual Behavior

Obesity is a worldwide problem and is known to be associated with a series of health problems.In this research,we have conducted two studies to explore obesity and its effect on sexuality.In Study 1,we investigated obesity’s effect on the participants’ sexual desire and explored the possibility that testosterone(T)would be the mechanism behind it.Gender differences and potential confounding factors were also considered.A sample of 1,449 men and 610 women,who had participated in the Genetics of Sexuality and Aggression study,a population-based study of Finnish twins and siblings of twins were included in this study and their saliva was collected.Results shows that,for women,higher BMI related to higher testosterone and with rising Testosterone levels,the women expressed more desire for sex with themselves.As for men,higher BMI related to lower testosterone.There was no significant association between men’s T and sexual desire.In sum,obesity resulted in higher sexual desire for women to have sex with themselves but obesity had no significant effect on sexual desire for men.In Study 2,we explored a number of mechanisms that could mediate between obesity and sexuality.Participants in Study 2 were 251 adult Chinese speakers currently living in China,whose age ranged from 18 to 57,(men M = 33.16,SD = 7.23,women M = 29.58,SD = 6.11).The final sample consisted of 26 obese men,55 overweight men,and 42 normal weight men as well as 26 obese women,39 overweight women,and 60 normal weight women.We assessed the participants’ sexual dysfunction,body image and potential obesity-related sexual problems such as physical exhaustion and problems with fat tissue interfering with sexual activities.Results showed that obesity increased sexual dysfunctions both for men and women in China,which is in line with previous research.Also as expected negative body image was predicted by higher BMI and more sexual dysfunction.Notably,on specific sexual behaviors,both for men and women,overweight and obese participants reported highest percentage of fat tissue affecting the choice of sexual activity.This shows that weight is related to sexual function also directly and not only via its effects on body image.