A new study suggests exercise improves a man’s erectile and sexual function — regardless of race.
It’s the first study to link exercise to these benefits in a racially diverse group of patients, according to Adriana Vidal, the senior author and an investigator for Cedars-Sinai, one of the nation’s largest medical academic centers.
African-American men were under-represented in past studies, a press release reported today.
Titled “The Association of Exercise with Both Erectile and Sexual Function in Black and White Men,” the study of 295 men was published in the latest issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
The participants were grouped into one of four categories based on how much they exercised:
- Sedentary (less than 3 metabolic equivalents/week)
- Mildly active (3 to 8.9 METs/week)
- Moderately active (9 to 17.9 METs/week)
- Highly active (18 or more METs/week)
A metabolic equivalent, or MET, is a measure that reflects both the total time and the intensity of exercise, according to the release.
Researchers concluded that 18 METs per week was the magic number.
“Exercise ≥18 MET hours/week is highly associated with better erectile/sexual function regardless of race,” according to the study.
While men can accomplish their 18 METs per week through various combinations of exercise types and intensities, 18 METs is equivalent to two hours of strenuous exercise like running or swimming, 3.5 hours of moderate exercise or six hours of light exercise.
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