Marriage Makes You Fat
Although I waxed poetic recently on my desire to get married, new studies published in the Obesity Journal showing that marriage and obesity are directly linked makes me think twice. (OK, I thought, I still want to get married; I’ll just add a mile to my daily run.)
Penny Gordon-Larsen, associate professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, released this finding from her studies: “People face the following risks of becoming obese, compared to people in romantic relationships who are not living together: Married women and men – both more than twice as likely to become obese; women living with a romantic partner – 63 percent increased risk; and men living with a romantic partner – no increased risk.”
The studies have not determined why there’s a link between cohabitation and weight gain, but Gordon-Larsen released these hypotheses: “When people are living together – married or not – they tend to share behaviors and activity patterns. They may chose [sic] to eat meals together, possibly cooking bigger meals or eating out more often than they did when they were single, and may watch TV together instead of going to the gym or playing a sport.”
My married and unmarried friends reacted viscerally and in agreement to these findings:
Unmarried friend: “This is because they think they crossed the finish line, so can letup. You owe it to your loved one to show some discipline.”
Engaged friend: “This is bad news for me as an upcoming bride. But I will say that I agree with the study for many married couples I know.”
Married friend: “I think if your spouse gains 15 or more pounds, you have the right to send him/her to Weight Watchers.”
So, do we add an amendment to the marriage vows: “For Fatter or Thinner”?
