Marriage Leads to Weight Gain in Men, Study Reveals

The Impact of Marriage on Men’s Weight Gain

• Marriage has a profound influence on men’s body mass index (BMI) scores, according to recent research findings.

Research has revealed an interesting fact that many women have always suspected: men tend to become less active and put on weight after getting married.

The study found that during the first five years of marriage, men are likely to gain weight as they consume more calories and become less active. This marital status change has a significant effect on men’s BMI scores, a common indicator of healthy weight. Post-marriage, an additional 5.2% of men fall into the overweight category, and obesity rates rise by 2.5%.

Interestingly enough, the same trend didn’t seem to apply to women.

Even though the research was conducted in China, the researchers believe these findings to be universal.

“Happy Fat” – The Effects of Marriage on Men’s Health

Shiwen Quan, from the Chinese Academy of Social Science, shed light on this phenomenon often referred to as “happy fat”. Quan noted that after getting married, men often decrease their level of physical activity and increase their caloric intake, leading to a higher BMI.

Quan emphasized the importance of regular exercise and a healthy diet for men, especially after getting married, to mitigate the risk of obesity. However, the study didn’t find a clear trend in female BMI scores post-marriage.

The findings were published in the Economics & Human Biology journal, and it was noted that male BMI scores continued to rise for the first five years after marriage before stabilizing.

Implications for Health Promotion and Policies

The researchers emphasized the importance of promoting physical fitness and healthy lifestyle habits within families. They suggested that health authorities target newly married couples with dietary advice to prevent weight gain post-marriage.

This study suggests that health policies should view marriage as an opportunity to address individual weight management needs. The researchers proposed the development of post-marriage body management plans for both genders.

Prior studies have noted a correlation between relationship satisfaction and weight gain. The more satisfied individuals were with their relationship, the more likely they were to gain weight.

• On a side note, a separate study found that the scent of a woman could potentially lead to early death in men. The study, conducted in New Zealand, reported that exposing middle-aged male mice to the smell of a female led to premature aging and increased mortality rates. This phenomenon gives a new meaning to the term ‘femme fatale’.