Paradoxically however, despite being less interested in sex and having less sex,obese women suffer more sexual complications such as more unplanned pregnancies.They have a startling 4x the number of unplanned pregnancies as normal weight women.But obese men aren’t spared.They are more at risk for getting sexually transmitted diseases and like I just said, have more erectile dysfunction than their single counterparts.

These are alarming statistics considering the wealthy nations where obesity is becoming endemic.

So, in summary guys, being overweight means that you can’t get it up nearly as easily or consistently as your thin drinking buddies. And ladies you aren’t without significant risk as well.

What I hope you take home with you is this great fun fact: For every 10 pounds a man gains his penis shrinks about an inch in size.That’s because men put on belly fat and the expansion of their suprapubic fat pad makes their penis look that much smaller.

No wonder obesity is linked to increased risk of depression.

My favorite saying was published in Men’s Health years ago when they were talking about sex drive and weight loss. The summary of the article was this: If you lose 10 pounds you may not get more sex but we can guarantee you won’t get less. Guys, if you want that spark back in your marriage giving your woman a body that turns her on will light her fire.

Live Well,

Ruth Anderson, MD MS

If you want more information on this study click on:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/06/obesity-and-s…

Exercise is the Best Medicine. That is the new slogan of the American College of Sports Medicine. And they should know. They are the ones who set the standards for your fitness trainers and the world of exercise science.

I am not stealing their phrase but I am telling you that they are absolutely right. As a physician who treats patients every day, I know that exercise is their answer. Your doctor will tell you the same thing. For many diseases exercise works as well as medications, but without the side effects.

● Exercise for health because it is the only intervention known to lower your risk of dying from all causes. That means anyone who exercises on a regular basis is less likely to die. Period. There is no medicine, no diet and no supplements that can make that claim. Only exercise.

● Exercise for wellness because the right exercise program will prevent half of you from every suffering from high blood pressure.

● Exercise for health because it is the only intervention (coupled with weight loss) that can cure diabetes. The right exercise program will lower your blood sugar for up to 72 hours after just your first exercise session and when coupled with weight loss, you’ll be off your diabetic meds before you know it.

● Exercise for wellness because it can prevent osteoporosis (brittle bone disease). Impact exercise like walking and running stimulate bone growth.

● Exercise for health because this is the only life you have and you the master of your own fate – you are in control of how well you live and how well you die.

My book, GET MOVING! Live Better, Live Longer gives you an easy to follow guide on how to use exercise to prevent or treat the 6 major diseases of our society. They include heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, chronic low back pain, osteoporosis and arthritis.

I have combined my medical training (double boarded in anesthesiology and pain management) and masters in exercise physiology with 30 years of teaching exercise and dance to give you this step by step guide to get you started on the right program for you.

My mission is to lower the health care budget – one healthy person at a time. And that first healthy person is you. As a doctor, I recommend that you pick up this book and get started. We’ll start together. One step at a time. To know more about Dr. Exercise visit http://www.drexercise.net

The first problem is the number 50. Any exercise you do where you can do more than 20 is not building strength efficiently. Your best bet is to slow down the exercise or add some extra weight, so you recruit more muscle fibers and build strength effectively. My book tells you how.

The second problem is with the word sit-up. It’s a bad choice of an exercise to build core strength. You see any exercise where you raise your body up from the floor is using your hip flexor muscles far more than it uses your abdominal muscles. The sit-up is not only ineffective but it is also potentially dangerous. It can easily strain your low back; a situation we want to avoid. My book illustrates the most effective exercises.

Pick exercises that train all 4 sets of abdominal muscles; not just your sexy 6-pack. This will build the strong core you need to support your back and prevent low back pain.

Remember, your core also includes your low back muscles. They work in tandem with your abdominal muscles to provide support for your back. Again preventing

low back pain.

The ultimate exercises for core strengthening are ones that use large muscle groups and require you to move your body through space. These include push-ups, pull-ups, and twisting single leg squats. Remember, any exercise that challenges your balance will also challenge your core.

The exercise above is one of my favorite for core strength and balance practice. It is one of many illustrated core strengthening exercises in my book, GET MOVING! Live Better, Live Longer.

You can prevent and even control your low back pain with the right exercise program. My book is an easy to follow, step-by-step guide to help you combat disease (and that includes low back pain) with exercise. You have the power to regain the health and wellness you were born with.

Live Well,

Ruth Anderson MD, MS