Washington, Aug 25 - Obesity is likely to render 30 to 40 percent males over 50 years more vulnerable to erectile dysfunction (ED).

The build-up of atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries of obese men can damage the arterial lining and contribute to elevated blood pressure (BP). Atherosclerosis is the condition in which an artery wall thickens as the result of a build-up of fatty materials such as cholesterol.

Besides atherosclerosis, hormonal changes that accompany obesity, including lower testosterone, increase the risk of ED.

Modifiable risk factors for heart disease, such as excess weight, diabetes, and hypertension, are generally the same as those for ED. Studies have shown that weight loss and increased physical activity can improve ED.

Adam Gilden Tsai from University of Colorado Denver (UC-D) and David Sarwer from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine illustrate these conditions with a mildly obese 48-year-old man with hypertension and ED.