Obese men and women seeking weight-loss treatment report significantly less satisfaction with their sex life than the general population, according to a Duke University Medical Center study. Women report even lower satisfaction than men, the study says.

“We found that there was lower sexual satisfaction and lower sexual quality of life among women than men, and overall sexual quality of life was low among both groups,” said Truls Ostbye, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Community & Family Medicine at Duke.

Sexual functioning is an area not often discussed between health care providers and patients in general—and obese patients in particular—according to Ostbye. Providers should keep in mind the possibility of reduced sexual quality of life among their obese patients, and invite them to discuss this issue, he said.

“Obese patients welcome the opportunity to discuss the effects of their weight on quality of life, including sexual quality of life,” said, Ronette L. Kolotkin, PhD, co-author of the study and clinical psychologist.

The research is published in the May/June issue of the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy.