Dear married men, watch your weight!

New study deems husbands, new fathers more vulnerable to gaining inches

Contrary to the idea that married people have better physical health due to increased social support, a new study has found that marriage actually makes men fatter. And what’s more, the early days of fatherhood can add to the problem, reported Hindustan Times.

The findings, published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, confirm the theory that people who are single but seeking marriage have more incentive to stay fit and make more effort than those who are already married.

“It’s useful for individuals to understand which social factors may influence weight gain, especially common ones such as marriage and parenthood, so that they can make informed decisions about their health and well-being,” said Joanna Syrda, from the University of Bath in England.

The study suggests that married men who want to avoid increases in Body Mass Index (BMI) should be mindful of their own changing motivation, behaviour and eating habits. “Given major public health concerns about obesity, understanding more about the social science factors that can cause weight fluctuation is important.”



The study of heterosexual couples in the US, between 1999 and 2013, used data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. It found that married men have a higher BMI than their non-married counterparts, adding approximately 1.4 kg to the scales. There was no effect on male BMI if their wife became pregnant, but in the early years after childbirth, even men gained weight.

It takes the period just before and after divorce to register a dip in male BMI, the findings revealed. The study supports the theory that marriage leads to more social occasions involving richer foods, or more regular meals for men.

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