The Study

In this study, 95 patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery for weight loss completed the Brief Sexual Inventory (BSI) pre- and post-operatively. On average, BSI scores improved in all categories, including sexual drive, erectile function  ejaculatory function, problem assessment and sexual satisfaction. The amount of weight lost predicted the degree of improvement in all areas of the survey. Results were then compared to data from the Olmstead County Study of Urinary Health Status Survey, a community-based prospective study often used as a baseline for study comparison. After an average of 67 percent weight loss post-bypass, BSI scores were comparable to patients in the Olmstead Study.

About Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery, a procedure that reduces the body’s caloric intake, can be used to induce significant weight loss in the obese. Gastric bypass surgery makes the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine. This results in the patient feeling  full more quickly than when the stomach was its original size. This reduces the amount of food eaten and less calories consumed. Bypassing part of the intestine also results in fewer calories being absorbed. This leads to weight loss. The most common gastric bypass surgery is a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Most people who have gastric bypass surgery quickly begin to lose weight and continue to lose weight for up to 12 months. One study noted that people lost about one-third of their excess weight (the weight above what is considered healthy) in 1 to 4 years.¹ Some of the lost weight may be regained.

The laparoscopic approach showed similar results, with 69% to 82% of excess weight lost over 12 to 54 months.²

Conclusion

According to the researchers, “This study shows that weight loss and other risk factors which are alleviated by weight loss may be keys to restoring sexual function,” said Anthony Y. Smith, M.D. “These results give men another reason to improve their health by losing weight.”

Source: Dallal Rm, Smith JA, O’Leary MP, Harkaway RC, Sawh SL: Profound sexual dysfunction is common in the morbidly obese male and is reversed after gastric bypass surgery. J Urol, suppl., 2008; 179:405, abstract 1178.

Obesity is a condition in which the natural energy reserve, stored in the fatty tissue of humans and other mammals, exceeds healthy limits. It is commonly defined as a body mass index (BMI) (weight divided by height squared) of 30 kg/m² or higher.

Mortality is increased in obesity, with a BMI of over 32 being associated with a doubled risk of death.  Central obesity (male-type or waist-predominant obesity, characterized by a high waist-hip ratio), is an important risk factor for the metabolic syndrome, the clustering of a number of diseases and risk factors that heavily predispose for cardiovascular disease. These are diabetes mellitus, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and triglyceride levels (combined hyperlipidemia).

Apart from the metabolic syndrome, obesity is also correlated with a variety of other complications. For some of these complaints, it has not been clearly established to what extent they are caused directly by obesity itself, or have some other cause (such as limited exercise) that causes obesity as well.

• Cardiovascular: congestive heart failure, enlarged heart and its associated arrhythmias and dizziness, varicose veins, and pulmonary embolism
• Endocrine: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), menstrual disorders, and infertility
• Gastrointestinal: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), fatty liver disease, cholelithiasishernia, and colorectal cancer
• Renal and genitourinary: erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, chronic renal failure, hypogonadism (male), breast cancer (female), uterine cancer (female), stillbirth
• Integument (skin and appendages): stretch marks, acanthosis nigricans, lymphedema, cellulitis, carbuncles, intertrigo
• Musculoskeletal: hyperuricemia (which predisposes to gout), immobility, osteoarthritis, low back pain
• Neurologic: stroke, meralgia paresthetica, headache, carpal tunnel syndrome, dementia, idiopathic intracranial hypertension
• Respiratory: obstructive sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, asthma
• Psychological: Depression, low self esteem, body dysmorphic disorder, social stigmatization
• Erectile Dysfunction 

Citations

1. Balsiger BM, et al. (2000). Prospective evaluation of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery as primary operation for medically complicated obesity. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 75(7): 673–680.

2. Schauer PR, Ikramuddin S (2001). Laparoscopic surgery for morbid obesity. Surgical Clinics of North America, 81(5): 1145–1179.