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An expanding waistline in older men is linked to lower urinary tract symptoms and poorer sexual function, research says.
The American Urological Association said waist size was one component of the so-called metabolic syndrome, which signified an elevated risk of heart disease and diabetes.
"It is becoming clear that when you have multiple components of the metabolic syndrome you can bet that you will have components of pelvic dysfunction, which we would define as sexual dysfunction and voiding dysfunction," researcher Steven Kaplan said.
He and his colleagues tested the idea that waist circumference may be a useful predictor of prostate volume and the severity of pelvic dysfunction.
They grouped 88 men (average age of 62) with moderate or severe untreated voiding symptoms by waist circumference: 76-91cm (30-36in), 91-101cm (36-40in) and over 101cm.
Increasing waist circumference was significantly associated with "every parameter we looked at". Prostate volume, PSA (prostate specific antigen) level, voiding symptom score, erectile dysfunction and ejaculatory dysfunction all increased with waist size.
"The results were simply remarkable. They even surprised us," Dr Kaplan said. "We have no doubt, at least from this cohort of patients, that increasing waist circumference is associated with worsening male health - voiding and sexual function."
- REUTERS
