A wider waist circumference, indicating abdominal obesity, increases the risk of not only heart disease in men, but also problems with the urinary system and sexual dysfunction, according to the August issue of the British Journal of Urology International.
As observed by researchers from Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, men who have a waist of at least 100 cm are even three times more likely to suffer from problems with the genitourinary system than their peers with a waist circumference of less than 90 cm. It is, among others, o urination disorders associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
According to the researchers, this discovery gives doctors an easy tool to identify men who may develop urological or sexual disorders. As co-author Dr. Steven A. Kaplan points out, measuring waist circumference has the advantage of being an easy, non-invasive and cost-free method.
Waist circumference is an indicator used by doctors to assess the occurrence of the so-called abdominal obesity. It is considered an important risk factor for heart disease and metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes. Obesity of this type is the basic component of the so-called metabolic syndrome. In order to diagnose it, it is necessary to coexist at least 2 out of 4 factors, such as high blood pressure, decreased level of the so-called good cholesterol, elevated blood triglycerides, and high fasting glucose.
The latest study involved 409 men aged 40-91 years who had moderate or severe lower urinary tract symptoms such as frequent urination (day and night), prolonged urination or an intermittent urine stream. These symptoms are common in elderly men and are associated with a benign enlargement of the prostate gland.
In the entire group, 37,5 percent. men had a waist less than 90 cm, 33,5 percent. – from 90 to 99 cm, and 29 percent. – 100 cm and more. The highest percentage of men with a waist of at least 100 cm was recorded in the 70-79 age group.
It turned out that greater waist circumference was associated with more frequent urination. Among men with a circumference of 100 cm or more, 39 percent. urinated more than 8 times a day, while in the group with a waist of 90-99 cm this percentage was 27%, and in the group of the narrowest waist – 16%. A similar regularity was observed in the case of urination at night – 44%. men with the widest waist circumference visited the toilet more than twice a night for this purpose, and in the other two groups the percentage was 29%, respectively. and 15 percent
Men measuring at least 100 cm in waist had nearly 40 percent. a higher risk of problems with prostate enlargement than men with the narrowest waist and 132 percent. higher risk of erectile dysfunction and by 202 percent. higher risk of ejaculation disorders.
Research also confirmed that greater waist circumference is associated with more frequent occurrence of other symptoms of metabolic syndrome, such as hypertension (risk higher by 131%), type 2 diabetes (188%) and coronary heart disease (205%). The men with the widest waist also had the highest blood cholesterol levels.
“We now have a broader view of how obesity can affect a man’s health,” comments Dr. Kaplan. In his opinion, the latest results provide further arguments that men should maintain a healthy body weight in order to enjoy overall good health.
Moreover, further analysis by scientists showed that reducing the waist circumference by about 6 cm can significantly improve sexual function and alleviate urinary symptoms.
Dr. Kaplan points out that it is not yet known why abdominal obesity leads to disorders of the urinary system and problems with sexual performance. Scientists suspect, however, that obesity-induced changes in the blood vessels in the pelvic region (and, consequently, deterioration of blood circulation in the organs located in it) and unfavorable hormonal changes. (PAP)