According to new research, overweight men have an increased risk for erectile dysfunction. The study shows that men with waistlines of 42 inches were twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction as men with 32-inch waistlines. The study of nearly 2,000 men aged 51 to 88 indicated that more than a third of the study's participants suffered moderate to severe erectile dysfunction. In addition to weighing more, these men were also likely to be less active and suffer from associated health conditions such as high cholesterol. It seems certain lifestyle factors may impede blood flow to the genital area, much like the factors leading to arterial hardening or factors that imped blood flow to the heart.