Celebrating Father's Day: A Closer Look at Dad-Bods and Men's Health

Read time: 3 mins.

Father's Day is about celebrating the fatherly figure who has been instrumental in shaping a part of life and continues to be. It does not necessarily always have to be a biological father; any male figure who has been present in our lives and guided us as we use their experiences and wisdom to succeed. So while we all take the time to celebrate this dad joke teller, best coach, and the most gracious gift receiver to learn about obesity and men's health. Obesity is worldwide and affects men and women equally. And we are aware of how obesity can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer. But for men, there is the added disadvantage to being obese, with testosterone (a male hormone) which affects sexuality and prostate health. So let's talk about dad-bod health issues today because I know, as a physician, most male patients try to avoid doctors unless necessary. 

Testosterone 

Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in men, mainly produced in the testes. Testosterone is vital for the growth of large muscles, bone growth, deepening of the voice during puberty, development of the male reproductive organs, and sperm production—usually, testosterone surges during puberty and peaks in adulthood. Testosterone starts dropping in middle age at approximately 1% a year. But this drop in testosterone is amplified with obesity. Studies have noted that each point increase in BMI was associated with a 2% decrease in testosterone levels. A man's waist size is a better predictor of low testosterone levels than BMI. This means that if a man has a large waist size, he is likelier to have low testosterone levels than if he has a small waist size. This is even true if the man has a normal BMI. The study found that a four-inch increase in waist size increased a man's odds of having a low testosterone level by 75%. Thus, if a man's waist size is already large, a small increase in waist size can have a big impact on his testosterone levels.

Fatherhood 

Obesity can affect sperm count. A Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) study finds that overweight and obese men are likelier than their normal-weight peers to produce lower numbers of sperm or even no sperm. The lower sperm count can make it more difficult to conceive, though not necessarily infertility. 

Prostate health

Obesity can lower PSA levels, but not because the prostate is smaller.

The prostate gland in men produces PSA, a protein used to screen for prostate cancer. PSA levels usually rise as the prostate gets larger, as in cancer. However, obesity can lower PSA levels even though the prostate is still getting bigger due to obesity increasing blood volume, which dilutes PSA in the blood. So, even though the prostate produces more PSA, the overall level in the blood is lower.

Concluding that PSA levels may not be as accurate in obese men, and different tests may be needed to screen for prostate cancer. 

In addition to making it harder to detect, obesity also increases the risk of prostate cancer becoming aggressive. A study of 404,576 men found that being overweight increases a man's risk of developing prostate cancer by 8%, being obese boosts risk by 20%, and being severely obese increases risk by 34%. There may be multiple reasons, such that PSA levels tested may not accurately indicate prostate cancer in obese men and may rise in later stages until it has metastasized (spread). 

Kidney Stones

Last on the agenda for dad-bod health is painful kidney stones. Kidney stones are more likely to happen to men who are overweight or obese. A study from Harvard found that men who gained more than 35 pounds after age 21 were 39% more likely to get kidney stones than men who stayed the same weight. Males who weigh more than 220 pounds are 44% more likely to get kidney stones than men who weigh less than 150 pounds.

Scientists don't know why this happens, but they think it might be because overweight people have more calcium and other chemicals in their urine. These chemicals can form stones in the kidneys.

In conclusion, as you give a big hug and say thank you to that big presence and father figure in your life, make sure to remind them about their health. If they haven't been to their doctor recently or have yet to check their BMI, help them get healthier by calculating it for them. A sneaky fast and last-minute Father's Day gift, tell them you will schedule their appointment with their doctor on Monday. Another gift suggestion is to forward them our email to read about obesity and being healthier.