A woman's weight does not affect her sexual behavior, say Oregon and Hawaiian researchers who instead found that overweight women are more likely to report having sex than "normal weight" women. The study, appearing in Obstetrics & Gynecology, was based on data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth that looked at the sexual behavior of more than 7,000 women. Study author Bliss Kaneshiro's initial objective was to study the impact of body mass index on sexual behavior, as this relationship can affect how heavy women are counseled about pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases prevention. "Our analysis demonstrated that obese and overweight women do not differ significantly in some of the objective measures of sexual behavior compared to women of normal weight," said Kaneshiro. "This study indicates that all women deserve diligence in counseling on unintended pregnancy and STD prevention, regardless of body mass index."
The study seems to contradict widely held stereotypes that overweight and obese women are not as sexually active as other women. If anything, the researchers concluded the opposite seems to be true. "I was glad to see that the stereotype that you have to be slender to have sex is just that, a stereotype," co-researcher Marie Harvey said.
Kaneshiro said the data showed that overweight women were more likely to report having sexual intercourse with a man. Ninety-two percent of overweight women reported having a history of sexual intercourse with a man, as opposed to 87 percent of women with a normal body mass index. "These results were unexpected and we don't really know why this is the case," Kaneshiro said.
The researchers said the important thing to take away from the study is that physicians and others who work in women's medical health should never make assumptions about sexual behavior based on outward appearances. "Some medical practitioners may not do appropriate follow-up with women who are overweight, they might assume they aren't having sex unless they are told otherwise," Harvey concluded.
Related:
Sexual Showstoppers
Low Libido? Body Image Could Be To Blame
Female Sexual Dysfunction A "Corporate Creation"
Sex Life Not So Lively For Obese
Source: Oregon State University
