Childhood obesity prevents penis growth

Boys who are obese in childhood may have shorter penises when they grow up.

Scientists at Hanoi Medical University Hospital in Vietnam studied nearly 300 men to investigate the link between body weight and penis size and found that childhood obesity, rather than adult weight, had a lasting effect on development.

Those who were obese as children had significantly shorter flaccid and stretched penis lengths compared to men who maintained a healthy weight. Researchers believe this may be due to decreasing levels of testosterone during puberty, an important hormone responsible for male sexual development.

In contrast, the team found that adult obesity only affects the appearance of the penis (for example, causing it to appear smaller due to fat deposits) rather than its actual size.

Writing in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, the scientists said: “Childhood obesity is associated with penis growth, while obesity in adulthood is related to the appearance of the penis rather than actual size. Therefore, early intervention is needed to reduce the potential long-term effects of childhood obesity on penis development.”