Impaired quality of life and sexual function in overweight and obese men: the European Male Ageing Study (original) (raw)

Han, T.S. et al. (2011) Impaired quality of life and sexual function in overweight and obese men: the European Male Ageing Study.European Journal of Endocrinology, 164(6), pp. 1003-1011. (doi: 10.1530/EJE-10-1129)

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Abstract

Background: Few published data link overweight and obesity with measures of quality of life including sexual health in men.

Objective: To assess the association of overweight/obesity with impairment of physical and psychological quality of life (QoL) and sexual functions in men.

Design and setting: Cross-sectional, multi-centre survey of 3,369 community-dwelling men aged 40-79 (mean±SD, 60±11) years, randomly selected from eight European centres.

Outcomes: Adiposity was assessed by body mass index (BMI) and by waist circumference (WC), QoL and functional impairments by physical and psychological function domains of the Short Form-36 questionnaire, Beck’s Depression Inventory and the EMAS sexual function questionnaire.

Results: Complete data on sexual activities and erectile function were available in 2,734 (92%) and 3,193 (95%) of participants, respectively. From the population studied, 814 men were obese (BMI≥30kg/m²) and 1171 had WC≥102 cm, 25% of all men were unable to do vigorous activity and 2-13% reported depressive symptoms. Symptoms of sexual dysfunction ranged between 22% (low sexual desire) and 40% (infrequent morning erections). Among obese men with both BMI≥30kg/m² and WC≥102cm, at least one symptom of impaired physical, psychological and sexual function was reported by 41%, 43% and 73%, respectively. Compared to the reference group of non-obese men (BMI<30 kg/m² and WC<102cm), men with BMI<30 kg/m² and WC<102 cm more frequently reported at least one symptom of impaired physical function (OR=2.67; CI:2.07-3.45, P<0.001), of impaired psychological function (OR=1.48; CI:1.14-1.90, P<0.01) and of impaired sexual function (OR=1.45; CI:1.14-1.85, P<0.01). These functional impairments were also more prevalent in men who had WC≥102cm even with BMI <30kg/m2, but those with BMI≥30kg/m2 and WC<102cm generally did not suffer increased impaired physical or sexual health. Men with high BMI and WC were at even greater likelihood of having a composite of two or more or three or more symptoms, compared to those with normal BMI and WC.

Conclusions: Men with high WC, including those who are “non-obese” with BMI<30 kg/m², have poor QoL with symptoms of impaired physical, psychological and sexual functions. Health promotion to improve QoL should focus on prevention of obesity and central fat accumulation.

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