Does masturbation cause weight loss? Facts and myths explained
Masturbation and weight loss: Is there a connection? Let's dive into the facts and separate myth from reality.
Key highlights
- Masturbation helps reduce stress, boost mood, and improve sleep, but it doesn’t burn enough calories to cause weight loss.
- By making you feel relaxed and less stressed, masturbation may help prevent emotional eating and support healthy habits.
- Masturbation only burns a few calories and can’t replace physical activity like walking, running, or lifting weights.
- To lose weight, focus on eating healthy, staying active, managing stress, and getting good sleep.
Masturbation is a trending topic many people are curious about, and it’s completely normal to have questions.
Masturbation is the act of stimulating one’s own body, usually the genitals, for self-pleasure or sexual enjoyment.
Masturbation is a normal and healthy activity for both men and women, and people don’t see it as taboo anymore.
Does masturbation cause weight loss? Explore the science behind this common question and learn about the factors contributing to weight management.
Does masturbation cause weight loss?
Masturbation can burn a few calories, but not as many as having sex with a partner or doing real workouts like running or lifting weights. If you don’t also exercise or eat healthy, it’s unlikely that masturbation alone will help you lose weight. The longer and more intense the session, the more calories you might burn, especially during orgasm.
One study found that people burn about 101 calories during sex for men and 69 calories for women.
While specific data on energy expenditure during masturbation is limited, studies have provided some estimates. On average, masturbation might burn about 3-5 calories per minute, depending on the intensity and duration of the activity. For comparison:
- Walking at a moderate pace (3 mph) can burn around 200-250 calories per hour
- Jogging at 5 mph can burn roughly 450-550 calories per hour
- Sexual activity with a partner burns about 100 calories for men and 70 calories for women, as seen in some studies
While masturbation does burn some calories, it is far less effective for weight loss compared to activities like walking or jogging. To put it in perspective, a 30-minute walk can burn up to 125-150 calories, while masturbation would likely burn only 10-15 calories over the same amount of time.
Does masturbation burn calories?
Scientific studies on the exact number of calories burned during masturbation are scarce, but some say it burns a few calories. On average, it burns 3-5 calories a minute, depending on the intensity and duration. That’s the same as other low-intensity activities.
Various factors affect how many calories you burn during any activity. Intensity is a big factor; vigorous movements like running or weightlifting will burn more calories than lighter exercises like walking or stretching.
Duration also matters; the longer you do physical activity, the more calories you burn.
Individual factors like body weight and metabolism also matter. Heavier individuals burn more calories doing the same activity, and those with higher metabolism burn calories faster.
Muscle mass is also important. The more muscle you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate, meaning you burn more calories even at rest.
As for releasing sperm, it doesn’t cause weight loss. The energy spent during ejaculation is a minimal 3-5 calories a minute, which is nothing compared to walking, jogging, or exercising. For effective weight loss, focus on regular exercise, a healthy diet, and overall lifestyle changes.
What are the health benefits of masturbation?
Masturbation is a normal, healthy activity that helps you understand your body and how you experience pleasure.
A European study found that it’s safe and very common. About 95% of men and 71% of women say they’ve masturbated at least once.
With masturbation, there’s no risk of pregnancy or STIs, even during mutual masturbation with a partner, as long as you avoid contact with bodily fluids. Masturbation is also perfectly fine at any age.
Here are some other benefits of masturbation:
- It helps you learn what you like and don’t like, so when you have sex with a partner, you can communicate your preferences, especially young healthy couples.
- Masturbation is empowering because it teaches you how to give yourself sexual pleasure. It can also improve how you feel about your body and overall sexual health.
- It can help with mental health by reducing stress, boosting feel-good hormones like dopamine and oxytocin, and helping you relax. It might even help you fall asleep.
- Ejaculation can relieve sexual tension, which also helps you feel more relaxed.
Even though masturbation may not help with weight loss, it still has benefits. According to expert Dr. Prause, masturbation to orgasm isn’t often studied in a way that proves it directly causes benefits, but there are many positive connections.
Masturbation and hormones
Masturbating to orgasm can boost hormones like oxytocin and prolactin, which can make you feel relaxed and happy. It’s also been shown to help animals fall asleep faster, and it’s likely to have the same effect on humans.
Masturbation can be good for your hormones. When you orgasm, your body releases dopamine, which makes you feel happy, and endorphins, which reduce pain and boost mood. These hormones can reduce stress, improve sleep, and make you feel better overall.
Masturbation and metabolism
Some say that masturbation boosts metabolism and helps with weight loss. But scientific evidence shows that while masturbation does burn a few calories, it’s not a significant factor in weight management. The calories burned during masturbation are minimal and not enough to impact metabolism or contribute to weight loss.
Metabolism is the process by which your body converts food into energy. A higher metabolic rate means your body burns more calories at rest. Factors that influence metabolism are age, muscle mass, and physical activity levels. Regular exercise, especially strength training and aerobic activities, is effective in increasing metabolic rate and weight management.
Masturbation can cause a brief increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and calorie expenditure, mainly during orgasm. But this effect is short-lived and doesn’t result in a sustained increase in metabolic rate. The number of calories burned during masturbation is minimal compared to more intense regular physical activities.
Masturbation and mental health
Masturbation can have indirect benefits for weight loss by improving your mental health. It helps reduce stress, anxiety, and even symptoms of depression by releasing feel-good hormones like dopamine and oxytocin.
Stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to emotional eating, cravings, and less motivation to exercise, which can cause weight gain. By helping you relax and feel better, masturbation may support better mood and more mindful, healthy eating habits.
While it doesn’t burn many calories, it can still play a small role in helping you stay mentally balanced and focused on your health goals.
Masturbation and exercise
Masturbation and exercise are very different when it comes to burning calories and health benefits.
Masturbation burns only a few calories, about 3 to 5 calories per minute, while exercise like walking, running, or lifting weights burns much more and works your muscles. Exercise also helps with weight loss, heart health, energy levels, and mood.
Although masturbation has some mental and emotional benefits, it cannot replace regular exercise. To stay healthy and lose weight, physical activity is still very important.
Understanding masturbation and its physiological effects
Masturbation is when a person touches their own body (sexual arousal), especially the genitals, for sexual pleasure. It’s a normal and healthy part of human sexuality.
During masturbation, your heart rate goes up, and you may burn a few calories, around 3 to 5 per minute. Your body also releases hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins, which help you feel happy and relaxed.
A masturbation session can lower stress, improve mood, and help you sleep better. These benefits can indirectly help with weight management by reducing emotional eating and supporting better lifestyle habits.
While it doesn’t replace exercise, masturbation can still play a small part in your overall well-being.
Common myths about masturbation and weight loss
Myth 1: Masturbation helps you lose weight
This is not true. Masturbation only burns a small number of calories and does not lead to real weight loss like exercise and a healthy diet can do.
Myth 2: Masturbation causes muscle loss or fat gain
This is a misconception. There’s no science to support this. Masturbation does not affect your muscles or make you gain fat.
Sometimes people think two things are connected because they happen around the same time but that doesn’t mean one causes the other. Just because someone masturbates and loses weight doesn’t mean masturbation caused the weight loss. It could be from diet, exercise, or other lifestyle changes.
Healthy weight loss strategies
Here are a few strategies that can help you lose weight:
- Eat a balanced diet: Eat more fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Avoid too much sugar, fried foods, and processed snacks.
- Stay active: Walk, take the stairs, stretch, or dance; every bit helps. Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity most days.
- Manage stress: Try deep breathing, meditation, journaling, or talking to someone. Stress can lead to overeating and eventually weight gain.
- Get enough sleep: Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep each night. Poor sleep can affect hunger and weight negatively.
- Talk to a doctor: Everyone’s body is different. A healthcare professional can help create a weight loss plan that’s right for you.
- Take a whole-body approach: Weight loss isn’t just about diet or exercise. It’s about your whole lifestyle, including mental and emotional well-being.
Masturbation and weight loss FAQs
Does masturbation increase metabolism?
Yes, masturbation can cause a small, temporary increase in metabolism because your heart rate and energy use rise during sexual arousal and orgasm. However, this effect is short-lived and does not affect your overall metabolism.
Can masturbation replace exercise for weight loss?
No, masturbation can’t replace exercise for weight loss, as it does not burn many calories. Regular exercise engages your entire body and aids in losing weight more effectively.
How does masturbation affect appetite?
Masturbation can lead to a short-term decrease in appetite because the body releases feel-good hormones like dopamine and prolactin after orgasm. These hormones can make you feel relaxed and less hungry for a short time.
Are there any negative side effects of masturbation?
Masturbation is usually safe, but doing it too often might cause tiredness, soreness, or interfere with daily life or relationships. It can also lead to guilt or stress if someone feels ashamed about it.
Is there a link between masturbation and muscle loss?
No, masturbation does not cause muscle loss. Your body still keeps its strength and muscles as long as you eat well and exercise regularly.
What are the best ways to lose weight effectively?
The best way to lose weight is to eat healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, and to exercise regularly with activities like walking, running, or strength training. Getting enough sleep and drinking plenty of water also contribute to weight loss.
Bottom line
Masturbation doesn’t burn enough calories to help with weight loss, but it has many other benefits that can make you feel better and might even indirectly affect your weight.
It can still support your overall well-being by helping reduce stress, improve mood, and support better sleep.
Remember, the best way to lose weight and stay healthy is through a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Eat well, stay active, manage stress, and get enough rest.
If recommended, weight loss medications like Wegovy or Ozempic can be helpful tools. Be sure to talk to your doctor to create a safe and personalized weight loss plan that works best for you.
