Couples In Loving Relationships Tend To Gain Weight More Than Single People Do, Says This Study
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Being in love is said to be one of the most overwhelming feelings in the world. Every single person experiences it in a different way which makes it all the more special. No two couples would ever have the same love story, would they? Everybody’s Jab We Met story is unique and as adventurous as the others’.
So, how does it feel to be in love, folks? There are songs written about it, there are exceptional pieces of art dedicated to it, there are monuments erected in the name of love, because love is a strong emotion that pushed people in love to extreme limits. We know when love hits us, we feel like we’re struck with sensations of pure joy and bliss. We find ourselves smiling at the wall, we start recalling all the special moments spent with our loved ones — be at the roadside eatery or the cafe on the corner of the road. We feel lucky; we feel like somebody just gave us a shot of glee for a lifetime.
All that being said now, if you are on a relationship, here’s a completely random question — Have you ever considered going on a weighing scale and seeing how much weight you’ve put on ever since you’ve been love-struck? (BTW, don’t just check for yourself, but get your partner’s weight checked too) You’ll be pleasantly shocked to see that both of you have gained a few extra kilos. Don’t panic because dearies love does this too! We’ll tell you why.
This whole idea about happy couples gaining weight because they’re truly, madly, and deeply in love with each other can sound a bit far-fetched, but shockingly, there are pieces of evidence that support the same. Of late, several studies have reported that happy couples, the ones who are satisfied and are happy in their marriages and relationships do gain weight (1).
We followed up with such studies in an attempt to understand how these researches led to such conclusions. You don’t have to do what we did. Because we’re explaining them right away for you, just read on.
Research Says Happily Married Couples Gain Weight
Saying, “I do” isn’t just about agreeing to be with someone. It’s also about agreeing to a major change in your life. Your lifestyle and food habits aren’t going to be just yours now. You start connecting every little thing that happens in your life with your partner too. And after a couple of years of togetherness, the habits don’t just remain yours, they became a mutual habit’.
A research conducted by the University of North Carolina took into observation the weight measurements of nearly 8000 people. They kept track of the weight gains of both men and women of single status, committed status, and married status. This research’s conclusion came up with stats that showed that on an average, a woman gains around 24 pounds in the initial 5-6 years of marriage. Whereas an unmarried or single woman gained 2 pounds less, that’s 22 pounds.
Coming to men, the study showed the weight transition on a higher end when men’s status changed from single to married or committed. Men likely gained around 25 pounds.
The conclusion of this study was that there is indeed a strong association between obesity and long term romantic relationships (2).
Newly Wedded Couples
The National Institute of Health conducted more research just to examine and understand if the weight gain among the newlyweds was a positive or a negative outcome of their happiness. For this, the study took into consideration the observations made on newly wedded couples and those couples who were already married for at least a span of four years.
This study reached a conclusion that just-married couples were happier and gained more weight as they don’t really have to put effort into keeping each other attracted (3). Whereas couples who have been married for long and are unhappy and not so-in-love did not gain weight because of the stress they faced.
Weight Gain Among Married Couples Is Contagious
Happy couples are happy because they spend quality time with each other. One partner’s eating habits can influence the eating habits of the other. So, if one gains weight, chances are that the spouse might gain weight too. The New England Journal of Medicine conducted a study that proved that weight gain among couples is a contagious thing.
After analyzing the habits, activities, and the social environment of the couples, the study concluded that the mutual increase in weight is a result of both the psychological influence of both the partners on each other, with their respective eating habits (4).
The above-mentioned details are the results of studies done by professional health experts. And it definitely doesn’t apply to everybody, there are exceptions too. But the thought here is that couples need to understand that it’s vital to influence each other with good habits and lifestyle choices. This will help them love each other more and live longer with each other.
What do you think of the above-mentioned results? Let us know in the comments below.
