Perhaps I had some intuitive understanding. Although I was a good athlete (the fastest sprinter in my high school), I hated to work out. I only joined the track team in college so I could go to spring training in Miami and spend half of each day on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale. Then except for a three year foray into karate in my mid 40’s (brown belt), the only exercise I got was dancing in discos. It seems I might have been fortunate.
A new study published by researchers at the University of North Carolina has found that too much exercise might actually cause a lowered libido. Over 1000 physically active men replied to questionnaires asking about their exercise habits, general health, and how often they thought about and engaged in sex. Most of them were well-trained athletes with a history of long-term, strenuous exercise. Although there may have been some flaws in the research, Anthony Hackney, the professor who conducted the study, said that strenuous exercise “was associated with a lower libido.” But now it is also well known through scientific studies that regular exercise is vital, as it prolongs life in many ways and may even prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. So I have decided to accept the possible consequences and go back to staying fit. From the study’s conclusion:
“Exposure to higher levels of chronic intense and greater durations of endurance training on a regular basis are significantly associated with a decreased libido scores in men.”
