Chiseled abs, a strong core, and a ripped body are all phrases we use to physically describe a “sex god.” We believe grueling endurance in the gym translates to stamina in the bedroom. However, researchers at Erciyes University in Turkey suggest overweight men may last longer in bed than their fit counterparts.
“We found that patients with lifelong premature ejaculation [PE] were leaner than the healthy control cases and the number of the patients decreased as their [body mass index] BMI increased,” wrote the researchers.
In other words, a higher BMI protected overweight men from the lifelong risk of PE. The number of overweight men in the control group, who lasted longer in bed, was three times higher than the group prone to PE.
PE is the most frequently reported sexual problem among men with as many as 1 out of 3 experiencing this problem, according to the Mayo Clinic. It’s defined as ejaculation before, or within, one minute of vaginal penetration, and the inability to delay orgasm. The problem may also occur in all sexual situations, even during masturbation.
In the study, published in the International Journal of Impotence Research, Turkish researchers sought to determine the correlation between a man’s physical size and his endurance during sex. More than 200 men were asked how long it took them to ejaculate; they were then placed into two groups — a PE group and a control group. They noted obese men lasted 90 seconds longer than fit men. The average man lasts about six minutes.
The researchers hypothesize overweight men may have higher levels of the female sex hormone estradiol, which can inhibit male orgasm. Men produce estrogen through a process that involves an enzyme called aromatase that transforms testosterone into estradiol. Typically, low testosterone, high estradiol, and elevated prolactin — a hormone that can decrease testosterone and cause sexual dysfunction — are common culprits of delayed orgasm.
Moreover, they also believe delayed orgasm is due to a decreased level of serotonin, the happiness hormone. Overweight men and women are 25 percent more likely to suffer from mood disorders, like , like depression, than the rest of the population. It’s believed people with depression have low serotonin levels, which has also been linked to binge eating, leading to excessive weight gain.
“Although we know that our study may not directly affect patient care, these findings may be useful in understanding the physiopathology of lifelong premature ejaculation” wrote the researchers.
Overall, the researchers concluded patients with lifelong PE tend to be slimmer, and PE rates dropped when weight increased. Eating more may be a natural way to combat PE, but this doesn’t mean men should eat their way into oblivion. It’s best to consult with a doctor about your sexual woes.
Inevitably, we know being overweight is bad for you, and is associated with increased blood pressure, strokes, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and heart disease. However, there are several scientific papers that proclaim being obese does carry unexpected health benefits. A little cushion could be beneficial for warding off some diseases, while also increasing the susceptibility for others.