First of all, did you know that obesity in men suppresses normal testosterone production? This is a fact, and the deficiency of testosterone has major effects on a man’s sense of well-being as well as likely long-term health effects related to Diabetes and Cardiac conditions.

What seems to happen is that every fat cell produces a tiny amount of estrogen. When there is an excess of fat cell and when each of those cells is really full of fat, the total amount of estrogen in the body rises well above normal levels. The excess estrogen can then act to suppress normal testosterone production.

It’s also an established medical fact that weight loss through bariatric surgery leads to increased testosterone, often back to normal levels. The latest news is that this increased production lasts for at least 5 years after surgery.

Researchers zoomed in on the testosterone levels for their male study participants in the STAMPEDE* trial. They found that the men who had bariatric surgery maintained a 50% increase in free testosterone after surgery, compared with men who had maximal non-surgical treatment who showed a 2% decrease in the same timeframe.

*The STAMPEDE trial is a very large and well-organized clinical trial, designed to compare the outcomes of bariatric surgery (Gastric Bypass or Sleeve Gastrectomy) versus maximal non-surgical treatment for obese people who also suffer from diabetes.