Obesity-Related Anthropometric Indicators and Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review

The observed results of body mass index are inconsistent, which makes it controversial whether weight loss is beneficial to erectile function. The purpose of this review aimed to summarize the potential relationship between obesity-related eight anthropometric indexes and erectile dysfunction: body mass index, waist circumference, weight-adjusted waist index, waist-to-height ratio, a body shape index, conicity index, abdominal volume index, and body roundness index. Body mass index or waist circumference has limitations in evaluating ectopic deposition of adipose tissue, which might lead to the obesity paradox in erectile dysfunction. As an alternative or supplement for body mass index or waist circumference, the other six obesity-related anthropometric indexes show advantages in capturing the complexity of adipose tissue and its ectopic deposition distribution. Combining multiple indicators may enhance the accuracy of forecasting of erectile dysfunction risk. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the clinical randomized controlled intervention studies.