Does masturbation cause weight loss? Everything you need to know

In a nutshell

Masturbation is a regular, healthy aspect of a sex life. While it can bring many benefits, including better sleep, improved moods, and reduced stress, it’s unlikely that masturbation causes weight loss. Masturbation doesn’t require much energy and doesn’t burn many calories. If you want to lose weight, you’d be better off focusing on eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. 

There are a few reasons why you might wonder, “Does masturbation cause weight loss?” Perhaps you’ve noticed recent weight loss and are trying to determine the cause. Or maybe you’re looking to lose some weight and wondering whether masturbation can be part of your exercise routine. You’re likely to be disappointed on both counts. Masturbation is unlikely to affect your weight because it doesn’t require much energy.

There’s no reason to give up masturbating altogether, though. Solo sessions bring other benefits, including improved mood, stress relief, and a boost to your sexual confidence. While it may not help you lose weight, it can help you feel better, so it’s still a worthwhile way to pass the time.

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What is masturbation? 

Masturbation is the stimulation of your genitals for sexual pleasure. You can masturbate alone, or a partner can help you masturbate. You may masturbate with your hands or sex toys or anything else that tickles your fancy. There is no right way to masturbate; how you do it will depend on your sexual interests and motivation.

While masturbation may be taboo, especially female masturbation, it is a normal part of a person’s sex life. There is nothing wrong with masturbating; it can be a positive thing. The stigma surrounding masturbation likely comes from religion and is not backed up by science. As we move towards a more sex-positive society, hopefully, the stigma surrounding masturbation will disappear.

Does masturbation cause weight loss?

No, it’s unlikely masturbation will help you lose weight. If you’re looking to get into shape, you’d be better off working out than engaging in frequent masturbation. Do both, by all means, but don’t expect the masturbating to contribute to any weight loss.

If you’re worried about recent unintentional weight loss and thought perhaps it was down to your masturbating habit, it isn’t. Masturbation is unlikely to affect your weight. If you have noticed unintentional weight loss, you need to pay a trip to your doctor to check for underlying health problems.

Does masturbation burn calories?

Technically, yes, masturbation burns calories. However, so does sleeping, watching TV, and thinking about what you want to eat for dinner. The whole time you’re awake, you’re burning calories. According to a 2013 article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a man can expect to burn around 14 additional calories for an average bit of sexual activity. So, it’s not a winning technique for burning calories, so you’d be better off hitting the gym.

Does masturbation make you weak?

No, masturbation doesn’t make you weak. There has been talk in the incel community of masturbation as a sign of weakness, but this is far from the truth. Female masturbation is still treated as a taboo subject, but it’s normal and healthy. There is nothing wrong with masturbation.

The benefits of masturbation

A 2023 study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found the most frequently given reasons for masturbating were feeling “horny,” stress relief, and relaxing. Masturbation is a healthy sexual activity, and there are lots of benefits of masturbation, including:

• Learning more about what you like sexually

Masturbation is a safe space to try new things and figure out what feels good. Regular masturbation can improve your body confidence and help you feel good about sex. 

• Relieving stress

Orgasms release feel-good hormones, including endorphins and oxytocin, that can boost your mood, reduce stress, and leave you feeling content. 

• Releasing sexual tension

There’s nothing wrong with masturbation, and it can release that pent-up sexual tension. 

• Strengthening your pelvic floor

During orgasm, the muscles in your pelvis contract rhythmically, giving them a mini workout. This is a great way to engage and strengthen those muscles. 

• You can’t catch an STI or get pregnant masturbating 

One of the significant benefits of masturbation is that there’s zero risk of getting pregnant or catching an STI if you masturbate alone. Even if you’re partaking in mutual masturbation, there’s no risk as long as you’re careful to ensure your bodily fluids remain separate. 

• Helping you sleep

When you orgasm, your body releases prolactin, which can make you sleep. This is why men often fall asleep after sex; however, sex can make women sleepy, too. Anecdotally, lots of people masturbate before bed to help them fall asleep at night. However, the evidence is mixed on whether masturbation helps sleep. A 2023 study in the Journal of Sleep Research found that sex increased sleep quality, but that masturbation didn’t have the same effect. 

Masturbation could even improve your relationship; while there is a myth that people in relationships don’t masturbate, this is far from the truth. Masturbation can play an essential role in relationships, ensuring each partner is getting enough orgasms for their sex drive.

Does masturbation cause weight gain? 

Nope, it’s unlikely that masturbation is to blame for your recent weight gain. Unless you celebrate each orgasm with a cake, in which case, maybe. Masturbation alone, however, is unlikely to affect your weight. There’s no reason why masturbation should make you put weight on. Engaging in masturbation as part of a healthy lifestyle will bring benefits.

Can you turn masturbation into a workout?

No, you can’t really turn masturbation into a workout. However, you can choose to masturbate in ways that burn more energy or strengthen your muscles. If you want to increase the impact of masturbating, you should choose positions that are challenging to hold. Moving your hips up and down can be a gentle workout for your abdominal and core muscles. However, the impact is likely to be minimal. It may be better to focus on the pleasure of masturbation and save the workout for the gym.

Does sex help you lose weight? 

Some people consider sex to be a workout, but that depends on the kind of sex you’re having. If you’re moving around a lot, holding difficult positions for a long time, and having lengthy sex sessions, you might feel like you’re burning lots of calories. However, it’s worth noting that a 2005 study published in the Journal of Sex Medicine found that the average session lasts just five minutes, which probably isn’t much of a workout in terms of weight loss.

A 2013 study published in PloS One found that young, healthy men burned 101 kCal and women burned 69.1 kCal of energy during moderate-intensity sex. The authors felt sex could potentially be considered exercise if enough calories of energy were burnt. However, it’s worth noting that low-intensity sex wouldn’t burn as many calories.

Can you masturbate too much? 

Most people will not be masturbating too much. Most people will be masturbating the right amount for their sexual tension, desire, and lifestyle. However, if you’re worried that you masturbate too often and it interferes with your daily life or relationships, then it might be time to talk to a professional. Contact your healthcare provider for advice if you think masturbation has become a problem for you.

Summary

Masturbation is unlikely to be the answer to your quest for weight loss. Healthy eating and exercise are tried and tested strategies for weight loss. The energy expended masturbating isn’t enough to affect your weight. That doesn’t mean masturbating isn’t good for your health; however, masturbation can boost your mood, reduce stress, and help you relax.

While it may not help you shed the pounds, it could boost your mood, combat stress, and help you sleep better. Masturbation is a normal and healthy sexual activity, and you don’t need to justify it. However, it’s not going to replace exercise in your weight loss campaign, so it’s probably not worth logging on your fitness tracking app.