COMPUTER geeks are more likely to be a flop in bed, a study found.
Men who play with PCs in their free time have rates of erectile dysfunction around four times higher than average, it revealed.
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Meanwhile, watching television or driving cars on the weekend does no harm to fellas’ sex lives.
Scientists from the Naval Medical University in Shanghai, China, looked at data from 224,000 Europeans, including Brits.
They found “leisure computer use”, including gaming, for at least one hour and 12 minutes per day was linked to a 3.57 times greater chance of erection troubles.
The risk was higher for more time spent glued to the screen.
Erectile dysfunction gets more common as men get older, affecting about half of over-40s, and is worse if you are out of shape.
Writing in the journal Andrology, study author Zhao Huangfu said too much sitting time messes up men’s hormones.
Physical exercise should be done to prevent erectile dysfunction
Zhao Huangfu
Computer nerds were found to have 70 per cent lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, which is linked to the production of sperm and testosterone.
They may spend more time sitting than TV viewers or be less healthy in other ways.
Huangfu said: “Extended computer use for leisure raised the likelihood of developing erectile dysfunction, which may be associated with lower follicle-stimulating hormone levels.
“Computer use may also affect inflammation and blood flow to the penile arteries.”
Brits spent hours sitting looking at screens
Figures show Brits get an average of five hours of screen time per day outside of work.
PhD student Huagnfu said simple exercise could reverse the damage and added: “Although the specific mechanism of erectile dysfunction caused by computer use is not clarified in this study, the damage of sedentary behaviour to erectile function appears to be clear.
“Previous research shows that physical activity could not only increase the level of testosterone but also help to improve cell function and relieve depression and anxiety.
“Physical exercise should be done to prevent erectile dysfunction caused by sitting for excessive periods of time.”
HEALTH RISKS OF SCREEN TIME
THE screens of our phones, TVs and computers improve our lives in many ways, but there can be too much of a good thing. Science now shows Britain’s technology obsession is damaging our health.
Most of the harm is because screen time is sedentary, meaning we barely move our bodies when we are watching or scrolling.
Spending too long sat still eventually leads to weight gain and obesity, which are the driving millions of Brits into health problems including type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, cancer and dementia.
Here are half a dozen studies that show screen time can damage our health at any age: