Posted on: Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Add sex esteem to benefits of exercise
By Jeannine Stein
Los Angeles Times
Working out has long been known to improve one's self-image, but it might boost sexual image as well.
A new research study found that college students who exercise often and describe themselves as physically fit also view themselves as more sexually desirable and believe they perform better sexually than those who exercise much less.
This isn't the first study linking fitness to a better sex life, but lead researcher Tina Penhollow says most of the previous research she found connected physical fitness to improved sexual function and greater sexual satisfaction.
"We were thinking of ways to expand the current research, and no one has really studied perceived sexual desirability," says Penhollow, a doctoral candidate in the health science program at the University of Arkansas. "We thought fitness and exercise may make people feel more sexy."
Previous research found that people who were physically active were more likely to engage in sexual behavior, report better sexual functioning and have a higher sex drive. According to studies done in 2003, sedentary men who burned at least 200 calories a day through exercise could substantially lower their risk of erectile dysfunction, and women reported being more sexually responsive after 20 minutes of vigorous exercise.
In Penhollow's study, published in the Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality last year, 408 single male and female University of Arkansas college students were surveyed about their exercise habits and perceived levels of sexual desirability and performance. Overall, those who had higher perceived levels of fitness rated themselves as being more sexually desirable and performing better sexually than people with lower fitness levels.
"What people should take from this," Penhollow said, "is that exercise is not just important for longevity and health benefits, there are also psychological benefits as well. People feel better about themselves and perceive themselves as more confident and sexually desirable."
