Obesity and Low Testosterone

Testosterone

It’s no secret that overweight individuals and obesity are big problems in the United States. At present, two-thirds of all Americans need to lose weight, and the number of overweight children and adults is growing at an alarming rate.
And it’s no secret that obesity is bad for health. Excess body fat raises levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides while also lowering HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels. Obesity impairs the body’s responsiveness to insulin, raising blood sugar and insulin levels. But obesity does more than produce bad numbers: it also leads to bad health, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, gallstones, cancer, osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, fatty liver, and depression. All in all, obesity is a killer; in fact, obesity and lack of exercise are responsible for about 1,000 American deaths each day, and if present trends continue, they will soon overtake smoking as the leading preventable causes of death in the U.S.
Obesity affects men and women about equally. But you may be surprised to learn that men bear a particular burden since obesity takes a special toll on male hormones, sexuality, and prostate health.
Earlier research has shown that obesity and low testosterone levels are linked, but could managing testosterone provide a quick fix for obesity Testosterone ?
A Look at Low Testosterone
Testosterone levels surge at puberty and peak in early adulthood, and then after a few years of stability, the hormone begins a slow drift downward in early middle age. Because the drop in testosterone averages just 1% a year, most older men retain normal levels. But anything that accelerates the decline can nudge some men into testosterone deficiency.
In the U.S., reports show that 2 to 4 million men suffer from a condition known as hypogonadism or low testosterone.  And while the condition is becoming better known and understood, very few men are getting the help they need. There are many testosterone products and treatments available including prescriptions and testosterone replacement therapy.
There are also certain medical conditions that increase the odds of having low testosterone. These include:
Obesity
Diabetes (Men age 45 and older with diabetes are twice as likely to have low testosterone.)
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Asthma/Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
HIV
In some cases, men with low testosterone may not experience any symptoms at all.  The best way to learn more about your testosterone levels is through a blood test.