Associations Among Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Weight Status With Sexuality Outcomes: Analyses from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Grabovac I 1 , Cao C 2 , Haider S 3 , Stefanac S 4 , Jackson SE 5 , Swami V 6 Show all authors , McDermott DT 7 , Smith L 8 , Yang L 9

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • 2 Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
  • 3 Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: sandra.a.haider@meduniwien.ac.at
  • 4 Institute of Outcomes Research, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and Rehabilitation, Vienna, Austria
  • 5 Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
  • 6 Division of Psychology, School of Psychology and Sports Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK; Centre for Psychological Medicine, Perdana University, Serdang, Malaysia
  • 7 Division of Psychology, School of Psychology and Sports Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
  • 8 Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
  • 9 Department of Epidemiology, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
J Sex Med, 2020 01;17(1):60-68.
PMID: 31812682 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.10.015

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity is likely to be associated with sexual activity. However, to date, there is no literature on the relationship between overweight/obesity and sexual activity outcomes.

AIM: Thus, the present study assessed the associations among physical activity, sedentary behavior, and weight status with sexual activity and number of previous sexual partners in a representative sample of U.S. adults.

METHODS: Data on leisure time physical activity, total sitting time, weight status, sexual behavior outcomes, and other characteristics were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Study cycle 2007 to 2016. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations among body mass index, leisure time physical activity, and total sitting time with past-year sexual activity and number of sexual partners.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Self reported frequency of past-year sexual activity and number of sex partners in the past year.

RESULTS: In a sample of 7,049 men (mean age: 38.3 ± 0.3 years) and 7,005 women (mean age: 38.7 ± 0.2 years) being overweight was associated with higher odds of frequent sexual activity (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.2-1.7) among men, but lower odds among women (OR = 0.8; 95% CI = 0.6-0.9). Sufficient physical activity was associated with higher odds of frequent sexual activity among both men (OR = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.1-1.5) and women (OR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.0-1.4). In those living alone, being obese was associated with lower odds of having at least 1 sexual partner for men (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.5-0.9) and women (OR = 0.6; 95% CI = 0.4-0.8). Being sufficiently physically active was associated with higher odds of having at least 1 sexual partner only in men (OR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.2-2.2).

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Healthcare professionals need to be made aware of these results, as they could be used to plan tailored interventions.

STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: Strengths include the large, representative sample of U.S. adults and objective measures of anthropometry. Limitations include the cross-sectional design of the study and that all variables on sexual history were self-reported.

CONCLUSION: The present study identifies novel modifiable behavioral and biological antecedents of sexuality outcomes. Grabovac I, Cao C, Haider S, et al. Associations Between Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Weight Status With Sexuality Outcomes: Analyses from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. J Sex Med 2020;17:60-68.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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