By Jimmy Downs

Friday Sept 21, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- If you are not satisfied with your sex, consider losing some weight.  A new study in the journal Obesity suggests that obesity can impair the quality of sexual life in both men and women

Ronette L. Kolotkin of Obesity and Quality of Life Consulting in Durham, NC and colleagues conducted the study and found higher body mass index was correlated with greater impairment in sexual quality of life.

The study involved 500 obese men and women with BMI of 41.3 kg/m2 in an intensive residential program for weight loss and lifestyle intervention, 372 obesity patients with a BMI of 47.1 kg/m2 evaluated for their qualifications for gastric bypass surgery and 286 obese subjects with a BMI of 43.6 kg/m2 who did not seek weight loss treatment.

In addition to the link between BMI and impairment of sexual quality of life,  obese women were found to suffer more impairment in sexual quality of life than obese men for three of four items including sexual enjoyment, sexual desire, sexual performance, and sexual avoidance.

Gastric bypass surgery candidates seemed to be more impaired in sexual quality of life than residential patients and controls for most items. And in general, residential patients reported higher levels of impairment in sexual quality than or equal to controls.

The researchers concluded "Obesity is associated with lack of enjoyment of sexual activity, lack of sexual desire, difficulties with sexual performance, and avoidance of sexual encounters. Sexual quality of life is most impaired for women, individuals with Class III obesity, and patients seeking gastric bypass surgery."