While women all around the world pine for men with bulging biceps, ripped six packs and fit physiques, it turns out these men may not sexually satisfy as much as those with a bit of flab around the middle.
There are obviously many benefits to eating healthy and maintaining an active lifestyle, but a recent study has found men with bigger bellies make better lovers. In fact, research by the Erciyes University in Turkey published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found bigger blokes are more likely to last five minutes longer between the sheets than those with a slim build.
Obesity has been linked to an array of serious health problems including erectile dysfunction, although few studies have assessed the relationship between weight gain and premature ejaculation. The aim of this research was to investigate the link between the two conditions and whether being bigger actually impacted how long a man lasts when making love.
For the study, 200 men in stable and monogamous relationships participated to see whether their body mass index (BMI) had an impact on sexual performance. The results discovered that on average bigger men lasted 7.3 minutes – or five minutes longer than their skinnier competition.
According to the study’s findings, thin men lasted for around two minutes during sexual intercourse and were more likely to experience premature ejaculation. Researchers found as the BMI increased within the group, the number of participants experiencing premature ejaculation actually decreased.
It is believed having more fat around the stomach increases levels of a female sex hormone known as oestradiol. The hormone actually slows down the orgasm process in men. Because it is more common in bigger men, researchers believed this was what caused them to last longer.
The study by no means encourages men to live an unhealthy lifestyle and gain weight just to score points in the bedroom. While a bigger gut may prevent you from climaxing early, it could have other impacts on your sex life and overall health. For one, obesity is known to target the penile vascular system, meaning there is not enough blood flow available to maintain an erection in the first place.
Weight gain can also cause further problems for the male genitalia. Similar to other arteries around the body, the penile artery can become clogged with fatty plaque, decreasing blood flow and sensitivity. If you’re concerned about your weight and the impact it has on your sex life, always talk to a GP. Otherwise, carry on getting busy!