Body mass index, physical activity and erectile dysfunction: an U-shaped relationship from population-based study.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Public Health
• Men's Health

Background:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition affecting men's health.
• Understanding the interplay between lifestyle factors like BMI and physical activity is crucial for ED prevention and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the independent and combined effects of Body Mass Index (BMI) and physical activity on the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED).
• To explore the relationship between BMI categories, physical activity levels, and ED prevalence in adult men.

Main Methods:

• A population-representative cross-sectional study involving 1506 men aged 26-70 in Hong Kong.
• Data collected via face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires, employing two-stage stratified random sampling.
• Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for confounding factors like age and psychological distress.

Main Results:

• Both BMI and physical activity were independently associated with ED risk.
• An U-shaped relationship between BMI and ED was observed, particularly in men with low physical activity levels (less than once per week).
• Physical activity significantly reduced ED risk in obese men (BMI ≥ 25.0), while underweight men (BMI < 18.5) showed an increased risk.

Conclusions:

• BMI and physical activity have distinct and interactive effects on ED.
• Physical activity is most impactful in mitigating ED risk among obese individuals.
• This study highlights underweight as a novel risk factor for ED and emphasizes the clinical importance of both BMI and exercise in managing ED.