Relationship between body weight and sexual functioning evaluation index

This study investigated the association of body weight, self-rated health, and physical attractiveness with sexual life evaluation in Polish healthcare workers.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and April 2022 among 1,478 healthcare workers from 99 Polish hospitals and specialized clinics. A total of 27.5% of the respondents were physicians. Data were collected using an online and paper-based questionnaire assessing body mass index (BMI), self-rated health, physical attractiveness, stress, sleep, and sexual life evaluation. Statistical analysis included hierarchical linear regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify direct and indirect relationships.

The data indicate that 54.7% of subjects had a BMI indicating excessive weight. Of these, 17.8% had a BMI that indicated obesity. BMI, health assessment, and physical attractiveness significantly influenced sexual life evaluation. Regression models demonstrated that impaired body image and health perception were the strongest predictors of lower sexual life evaluation (R ² = 0.365, p < 0.001). SEM analysis revealed BMI's indirect impact on sexual functioning, primarily mediated through attractiveness and health rating (-0.345, -0.238; p < 0.001).

Our findings highlight the complex links between body weight, self-perception, and sexual functioning. Self-rated health and physical attractiveness emerged as critical mediators, underscoring the need for targeted interventions addressing body image and health perceptions to improve sexual well-being in populations at risk of excess body weight.