The following research offers excellent evidence that exercise and weight loss can improve erectile function.
Evidence-based Healthcare and Public Health
Volume 8 • Number 6 • December 2004
Copyright © 2004 Churchill Livingstone, Inc.
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EVIDENCE-BASED CLINICAL PRACTICE Can weight loss
and regular exercise improve erectile
dysfunction? Randomised controlled trial. A two-year weight-loss programme significantly increased the likelihood of
regaining normal erectile function compared with general advice (AR for Index of
Erectile Dysfunction Score ? 22: 17/55 (31%) in the intervention group v 3/55
(5%) in the control group; Individualised weight loss
and exercise programmes significantly improve
both erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular risk factors in obese men.
Weight-loss and regular exercise improves erectile
dysfunction in obese men
? Abstracted from: Esposito K, Giugliano F, Di Palo C et al.
Effect of lifestyle changes on erectile dysfunction in obese men. A randomized
controlled trial. JAMA 2004; 291: 2978–2984.
PII S1744-2249(04)00163-9
Summary Question
).
The weight loss
programme significantly improved mean erectile dysfunction score and
significantly decreased body weight, body-mass indices, total cholesterol and
serum triglycerides compared with control at 2 years (see Results table).
| Keywords | ||
|---|---|---|
| Erectile dysfunction | ||
| Obesity cholesterol | ||
| Exercise | ||
| Weight loss | ||
| Randomised controlled trial | ||
| Main outcomes at 2 years | |
| Outcome | Difference in mean change after 2 years between intervention and control groups (95% CI) |
| Weight loss, Kg | -13 (18 to -11), |
| Body Mass Index (BMI)* | -5 (-7.5 to -2.5), |
| Erectile dysfunction score§ | 3 (1.2 to 4.8), |
| Total cholesterol level mg/dL | -13 (-23 to -3), |
| Triglycerides mg/dL | -15 (-29 to -1), |
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†Data are presented as median (interquartile range). |
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| * BMI calculated
as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres. § Based on the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction scale. |
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| Question |
| Can weight loss and increased exercise improve erectile dysfunction in obese men? |
| Study design |
| Randomised controlled trial. |
| Setting |
| Outpatient department at the Second University Hospital, Naples, Italy; October 2000 to October 2003. |
| Participants |
| 110 obese men, aged 35 to 55 years, with a body mass index of ?30 and erectile dysfunction, (determined by a score of 21 or less on the International Index of Erectile Function). Men with diabetes, impaired renal function, peripheral or autonomic neuropathy, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiac disease and psychiatric, alcohol or drug abuse disorders, were excluded. |
| Intervention |
| The intervention group received individual advice about weight loss (10% of total body weight or more) through reduced caloric intake and increased aerobic exercise (including walking, swimming, football and baseball). During the first year the intervention group had monthly meetings with a nutritionist and an exercise trainer. During the second year, the meetings were bimonthly. The control group was given more general advice about healthy eating and exercise initially and at bimonthly meetings. |
| Main outcomes |
| Erectile function score was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction questionnaire (maximum score 25; a score of 21 or less indicates erectile dysfunction); weight loss; BMI; serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. |
Sources of funding: The Second University of Naples, the Centre of Excellence in Cardiology and the Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic diseases, Naples, Italy.
Abstract provided by Bazian Ltd, London