We have some good news for guys who never skip dessert and have never wondered about the calorie content of beer: overweight men with obvious bellies last longer in the sack.
In a study published by the International Journal of Impotence Research (yep, that’s a thing), researchers in Turkey followed the sexual performances of two hundred men of various BMIs over a year. They found that men with higher BMIs lasted about seven minutes longer in bed, and that the slimmest of the group (i.e., underweight) barely managed two minutes—and were more prone to premature ejaculation.
According to the researchers, men with more belly fat have higher levels of estradiol, a female sex hormone that helps inhibit orgasm.
Of course, there is an important caveat: the upper levels of this research involved men who are overweight, according to their BMI. It didn’t take into account men who are obese, which a) is still unhealthy, and b) is still associated with a poor sex life.
So, if you have a bit of a beer belly instead of a six-pack, no worries—you’re fine, and maybe a little bit better than average. If, however, you’re working on a keg, it’s time for kale.
