Gary Wittert at the University of Adelaide says it's becoming well known that there are high levels of obesity in Australian men and that this has significant consequences for chronic diseases, both physical and psychological.

"What is less well known is that not only blood vessels to the heart are affected by obesity but similar effects occur with the blood vessels to the penis with resulting erectile dysfunction and poor urinary tract function," Wittert says in a statement.

"Australian men care about erection problems, perhaps more so than possible cardiovascular disease. This may present an opportunity to improve communication about the benefits of weight loss."

Not only are blood vessels to the heart affected by obesity, but similar effects occur with the blood vessels to the penis with resulting erectile dysfunction and poor urinary tract function, Wittert explains.

Men tended not to mention erectile dysfunction to their doctors and are not good at volunteering health information, but health practitioners could be trained to elicit important information in a gender specific way, Witter says.

Wittert is scheduled to speak at the University of Adelaide's Research Tuesday Public Seminar Series Tuesday.