Are Happy Couples Prone To Weight Gain?
A new study in Health Psychology has suggested that happily married couples are more likely to gain weight. The research looked at over 160 recently married couples who found that the happier they were in their relationship, the more extra weight they gained. Analysing the data over a four-year time period, the couples were asked regularly about their happiness within their marriage. They were asked to rate their happiness on a scale and their height and weight was also measured.
The investigators found that, on average, for each unit increase in satisfaction, males and females both gained one tenth of a BMI unit every six months. As a specific example, that works out as one pound a year for a female who is five feet, four inches tall and weighs 119 lbs. The authors have said that the outcomes suggest that people who were satisfied with their partner might be less inclined to worry about their weight, and that could be because they had no desire to look elsewhere to find love.
The couples that stayed happily together were found to be more likely to pile on some extra pounds; but on the other hand divorce was also linked to weight loss. The findings recommend young couples should be educated about weight management and how it contributes as a factor to their overall health.
Previous studies have indicated that weight-maintenance is normally motivated by the want to attract a mate. These findings seem to suggest that people might be thinking about their weight in terms of appearance rather than their health.
If they can focus more on weight in terms of health as opposed to appearance, happy couples should be able to avoid weight gain.
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