Excess weight can harm sex life and reduce pleasure, according to a new study published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy. The study involved 134 women and 91 men who were overweight and had a body mass index (BMI) of -under 30 who use diet pills. After long observations and answers to a series of questions about personal life – sexual interest, desire, arousal, orgasm, satisfaction, sexual behavior, relationships, masturbation and problems with intercourse – the scientists found that volunteers were less satisfied than people without problems in weight. The purpose of the study is to prove that overweight does not only affect health, but also affects the sexual activity of the population. Excess weight can harm sexual arousal and the quality of sexual intercourse, said study leader Truls Ostby, a professor at Duke University. Being overweight is often associated with low self-esteem and self-deprecation. These are factors that can subconsciously harm the full and pleasant experience of sex. People with excess weight are worried and cannot relax, which disturbs the sensations during the sexual act, experts say. The problem does not come from the weight itself, but from psychological stress. It is important that the intimate partner predisposes his partner and creates a sense of comfort. This can reduce stress and increase desire and arousal, which is a prerequisite for reaching ecstasy and sexual satisfaction.