Sexuality and obesity, a gender perspective: results from French national random probability survey of sexual behaviours

Abstract

Objectives To analyse the association between body mass index (BMI) and sexual activity, sexual satisfaction, unintended pregnancies, and abortions in obese people and to discuss the implications for public health practices, taking into account the respondents' and their partners' BMI. Design Random probability survey of sexual behaviours. Setting National population based survey of 12 364 men and women aged 18-69 living in France in 2006. Participants Random selection of 5535 women and 4635 men, of whom 3651 women and 2725 men were normal weight (BMI 18.5-<25), 1010 women and 1488 men were overweight (BMI 25-<30), and 411 women and 350 men were obese (BMI >30). Results Obese women were less likely than normal weight women to report having a sexual partner in the past 12 months (odds ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.51 to 0.97). Obese men were less likely than normal weight men to report more than one sexual partner in the same period (0.31, 0.17 to 0.57, P<0.001) and more likely to report erectile dysfunction (2.58, 1.09 to 6.11, P<0.05). Sexual dysfunction was not associated with BMI among women. Obese women aged under 30 were less likely to seek healthcare services for contraception (0.37, 0.18 to 0.76) or to use oral contraceptives (0.34, 0.15 to 0.78). They were also more likely to report an unintended pregnancy (4.26, 2.21 to 8.23). Conclusion There is a link between BMI and sexual behaviour and adverse sexual health outcomes, with obese women less likely to access contraceptive healthcare services and having more unplanned pregnancies. Prevention of unintended pregnancies among these women is a major reproductive health challenge. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of sensitivities related to weight and gender in the provision of sexual health services.

The effect of body mass index on the sexual functions of morbidly obese female patients

“…It is established that illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure (8), psychiatric problems such as depression and anxiety as well as medication used all have an effect on sexual functions (16). There are also studies that report no relation between BMI and female sexual function (17). However, as the limitation of the studies it has to be noted that they were not controlled for the absence of metabolic illnesses that affect sexual function.…”

Fucking failures: The future of fat sex

“…'Sexual behaviour', when it is quantified at all equates to heterosexual intercourse (Bajos, 2010;Brody, 2004;Kaneshiro, 2008). Nowhere is this more apparent that in …”

“…The articles selected include several that have been reported in mainstream news media in the UK (for example, Bajos, 2010;Binder, 2012;Kaneshiro, 2008;Shayeb, 2009) or that have been referenced frequently across the relevant subfields (Adolfsson, 2004;Brody, 2004;Larsen, 2008) or that have been (co)authored by researchers who are very widely published in their fields such as Adam Balen, Truls Østbye, Ronette Kolotkin, Katherine Esposito and Jeffery Sobal. Thus, while the sample cannot be said to be representative of the totality of medical research in the area, efforts have been made to adequately cover the key concerns, studies and researchers in this field.…”

“…From a fat studies perspective this is crucial to understanding fat people's sex lives, yet it is only considered in a minority of the sample articles and even then in rather limited ways (Bajos, 2010;Chen and Brown, 2005;Halpern, 2005;Swami and Tovée, 2009). …”

“…Within each of the categories the individual articles cover a wide range of issues. Those in the sexual behaviour, (dys)function and sexual quality of life group explore the possible correlations between overweight and obesity and perceived sexual attractiveness, rates and frequency of sexual relationships/activity (particularly (hetero)sexual intercourse), sexual desire, arousal, performance and satisfaction and a range of more medicalized sexual 'disorders' such as erectile dysfunction, female sexual dysfunction, vaginismus and dyspareunia (see Bajos, 2010;Brody, 2004;Esposito, 2008;Kolotkin, 2006;Larsen, 2008;Østbye, 2011).…”