Lifestyle Changes Beneficially Alter Testosterone Levels

The prevalence of hypogonadism (testosterone deficiency) decreased by almost 50% in overweight men who lost weight by means of lifestyle changes, reports a team of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (Massachusetts, USA).  Andrew A. Dwyer and colleagues evaluated a June 91 subjects enrolled in the Diabetes Prevention Program that seeks to assess relationships among testosterone, body weight, plasma glucose, and insulin sensitivity. The team randomized their subjects to lifestyle intervention – involving 150 minutes of physical activity weekly as well as a diet with reduced fat and calories, metformin, or placebo. The team observed that the subjects involved in lifestyle changes reduce their hypogonadism prevalence to 11% after 1 year, as compared with 20% at the study’s start.  Treatment with metformin did not significantly affect testosterone levels. Among the men engaged in lifestyle changes, the resulting changes in testosterone levels were significantly associated with body weight, waist circumference, and the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) of insulin deficiency and insulin resistance. As a result, the study authors comment that: "Lifestyle modification really was important in reducing the percentage of men with low testosterone levels. Weight loss appears to play an important beneficial role in improving testosterone levels.”