Masturbation is one of the very regular and normal behaviors of humans, although for so many centuries, it has been surrounded by curiosity, myths, and misunderstandings. One such myth surrounds the idea that masturbation leads to weight loss. This might be because physical activity, including sexual activity, burns calories, but the relationship between masturbation and significant weight loss is not at all simple. To understand the dynamic between these variables, let's discuss the physiology of masturbation, caloric expenditure when masturbating, and caloric loss in general.
Caloric Expenditure from Masturbation
Masturbation, like any other exercise, takes energy. Any time that the body moves, it expends calories to fuel the muscles in addition to all the functions the body performs. Depending upon the intensity and duration, masturbation can burn a few calories. A study has shown that an average masturbation session burns around 3 to 6 calories per minute, which may be roughly 20 to 40 calories for an average session lasting around 10 minutes. This is as light as walking or light stretching.
But that is pretty meager in the context of caloric expenditure, if one talks about those activities with all which are typically attributed to losing pounds-whether it be running, swimming, or cycling. For instance, if one does a 30-minute run, then it will burn approximately 200-500 calories in one person, all depending on the intensity and on the body weight. Therefore masturbation alone does not expend enough calories to really have a lot to do with weight loss.
Hormonal Impact on Weight Loss
Masturbation does release certain hormones in the body, such as dopamine and oxytocin, which have been proven to cause a sense of feeling good or satisfaction and relaxation. It can also momentarily result in the release of testosterone in males and possibly any other hormone that females may have. However, these hormonal changes are transient and less likely to affect metabolism or weight permanently.
Indeed, the reasoning that one loses weight through masturbation often spills into misunderstandings about testosterone. To be sure, testosterone does have functions within the human body to support muscle building and fat metabolism, but any alterations in such testosterone levels arising from masturbation are temporary and do not affect the body in a way that dramatic amounts of fat begin to burn or muscle begins to build. The hormonal effects of masturbation are more closely aligned with emotional well-being and stress reduction rather than any kind of physical effects which would influence body weight.
Conclusion
Masturbation does not help in body weight loss in any significant or measurable way. In the bottom line, although it burns some calories and may have some positive impacts on the mood or stress levels, it is a long way from replacing the kind of exercise or diet that is helpful for weight loss. Weight loss has many sides, and it would thus require a more all-round approach to bring exercise, nutrition, and mental well-being into play. Thus, there is a need to dispel myths surrounding masturbation and the effects it supposedly has on the body, just as this understanding will aid people in cultivating a more exact knowledge of sexual health.
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