Sydney, March 10 (ANI): An Adelaide University expert says that fat men must take note of studies that have suggested that obesity increases the risk of erectile dysfunction.

Professor Gary Wittert, the head of the universitys medical school, said that Australian men care a lot about their sexual health.

He said that men might benefit themselves by keeping their weight under check.

Australian men care about erection problems, perhaps more so than possible cardiovascular disease, news.co.au quoted Professor Wittert as saying.

This may present an opportunity to improve communication about the benefits of weight loss, he added.

Professor Wittert pointed out that, though men possessed the knowledge of various problems that might spring from obesity, difficulties getting an erection were less known.

Its becoming well known that there are high levels of obesity in Australian men and that this has significant consequences for chronic diseases, both physical and psychological, he said.

What is less well known is that not only blood vessels to the heart are affected by obesity but similar effects occur with the blood vessels to the penis with resulting erectile dysfunction and poor urinary tract function, he added.

Professor Witterts suggestion is based on the observations made during the Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study, wherein about 1,000 men were examined in an attempt to identify the key factors that determined their reproductive, physical and emotional health. (ANI)