Association between erectile dysfunction and relative fat mass in adult men in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Obesity has been identified as a significant risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED) in men, and the role of relative fat mass (RFM), a novel and potentially more accurate indicator of obesity, remains underexplored in this context. This study aimed to examine the association between RFM and ED using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and to investigate the mediating effects of hypertension, cholesterol levels, and inflammatory markers in this relationship.

Methods

Data were sourced from two cycles of NHANES (2001-2002 and 2003-2004), comprising a total of 3,449 adult male participants aged 20 years and above. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors (e.g., age, race, education level) and additional ED-related covariates,

SUBMITTER: Luo Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12603867 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature