Are You Too Obese to Have Intercourse?

Can obesity affect the quality of sexual life and the frequency of sexual relations? Which sexual positions are suitable for obese people?

Psychological effects of obesity on sexuality

A few extra pounds doesn't affect the physical agility one needs for sexual intercourse, but it is not rare that an excessively overweight person lacks confidence and refuses sexual intercourse. Excessive weight is linked to bad self-esteem and the perception of oneself as attractive. Sexual intercourse becomes too exhausting from a physical point of view if a person is truly overweight.

A recent study by professor Frances Quirk from the Australian University of James Cook has shown that excess body weight can kill sexual desire. Quirk warns that excess body weight can be look repulsive to our partner, which makes him less attracted to us in time. If we do  not talk about it and the partner does not confess that excess body weight is to blame, it can cause a great challenge for maintaining the relationship.

How does obesity influence sexual health?

The problem is not only psychological but also completely hormonal. Even if we talk to our partner about the problem and ask him/her for motivation for losing weight or even find out that s/he likes us even more with a few extra pounds, we still haven't done anything good for our health. Obesity influences the level of testosterone in such a way that it changes into estrogen if it is present in great quantities, which causes the lack of sexual desire.

Even though you might think that only obese women are faced with the lack of sexual desire, it has been proven that obesity has a similar effect on men, too. In North Carolina, an interesting and extensive study about the effect of obesity on sexual desire was conducted. They tested 1210 men, 282 of them were overweight.

More than half of them complained of their lack of sexual desire and every forth out of ten overweight men complained about the physical problems concerning sexual intercourse: problems with erection, sexual endurance, etc.

Only 1 percent of overweight men was satisfied with their sex life, which again proves that obesity somehow puts our sexual desire to sleep and intercourse can turn into a tiring physical activity.

Overweight people, not those with 2 extra pounds but a lot more, face pain in the joints, for example in the knees, their move slowly, they gasp for breath faster and often enjoy in sexual intercourse less that they could. They also face a higher possibility of a cardiac arrest and arthritis, which consequently diverts their attention away from sexual pleasures.

How can you enjoy in sexuality despite obesity?

Not all obese people face such kind of problems and many of them enjoy in sexuality. They are even less burdened with their looks than persons with 'normal' weight. One research even showed that overweight men are better lovers. Sexual positions which make the intercourse easier are also of key importance.

To make it easier you can use pillows which you put under your knees or your back to make the penetration easier. If your partner is much lighter than you, then it is more comfortable if s/he is on the top. If you want to 'ride' your partner, lean back a little and place your hands on a pillow or a blanket.

Certain complicated positions certainly cannot be practiced: for example standing, leaning against the wall, etc. Discover positions which bring you a lot of pleasure and don't forget - physical condition improves also with regular sexual intercourse!

Read also about the other benefits of sexual intercourse.