With reports warning of a rising obesity epidemic in the UK, the message from a medical perspective is clear - something needs to change.
The associated side effects include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, gallbladder disease, stroke and osteoarthritis. All of which may lead to premature death and an impaired quality of life. ?
However, a recent study by researchers at Erciyes University in Turkey has found one surprising 'plus' to being severely overweight - and it's your sex life which reportedly reaps the benefits.
Titled "Insight on pathogenesis of lifelong premature ejaculation: inverse relationship between lifelong premature ejaculation and obesity," the study's findings seem to point at a correlation between being overweight and stamina.
According to the study, the larger men with more stomach fat and a higher BMI could last for an average of 7.3 minutes in bed. The median time before orgasm is said to be about 6 minutes.
The study also pointed out that "patients with lifelong PE [premature ejaculation] were leaner than the healthy control cases and the number of the patients decreased as their BMI increased.
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As for why this might be, researchers also believe overweight people will have higher levels of the female sex hormone oestradiol. This causes a chemical imbalance in the body, inhibiting the male orgasm - which means men can last longer. Though at just one minute 30 seconds longer than average, it's not a particularly amazing benefit.