When I met my partner, I was in the best shape of my life. On our date nights, I never spent hours flinging outfits out of my closet worried about what I would wear. And then, there were beach dates. Considering we live in California, it was almost impossible to avoid getting into a bathing suit and heading to the beach for a daytime date. Even then, I still felt comfortable being in a bathing suit, because I felt comfortable and confident alongside him, and most importantly, in my own skin.
Slowly but surely, love settled in. The happier we became, the more unhappy our bodies started to look. From love handles to dad bods, our bodies began seeing that the perks to our amazingly happy relationship also came with the downside of weight gain. Meals are shared, as partners we feel secure, and the combination of commitment and cohabitation seemed to have quite the impact on our bodies.
But we aren’t alone. In fact, many couples can relate. When compared with individuals that are single, studies have shown that couples often experience a significant gain in weight after they’re married. So while you may be happily married, you should also look to be just as happily healthy!
Marriage, Happiness, and Health
While a study published in 2012 pinpoints newlywed couples in their teens and 20s, it’s likely that many couples in happy long term relationships will also experience the same fate of increased waistlines. And don’t worry ladies- it’s not just you who gain some pounds in this union! In fact, men are more likely to fall victim to weight gain than their wives. The study found that while newly-married women in that age group gained 24 pounds over five years, newly-married men gained 30 pounds. On average, newlyweds in that age group gained 6 to 9 pounds more than their single counterparts over five years. (1)
There are a few reasons for the addition of that extra fluff around the midsection. Stephanie Schoeppe, a Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Central Queensland University, and her team are responsible for the study that included 15,001 adults. The study states that happy couples eat healthier but weigh more. While these are the findings of their study, they are also consistent with most (but not all) previous studies. The study collected data on if individuals were married or single, lifestyle factors such as if they smoked or not, how often they exercised, consumption of alcohol, fast food, and fruits and vegetables, and their BMIs. (2)
Results found that couples utilized quality time in conjunction with planned meals. Additionally, it was found that family meals were linked with increased fruit, vegetable consumption, and larger portions. Whereas, single people eating alone were found to consume smaller portions. (2)
How to Stay Healthy, Happy, and In Love
This news may seem ominous to your waistline. But there’s no need to cut the cord on living a healthy, happy lifestyle while maintaining your marriage. The best part is knowing that you don’t have to do it alone. As a couple, you can create healthy, portioned dinners, along with date night exercise sessions.
Couples, both inside and outside of marriage, should proactively discuss concerns they may have about gaining weight. Understanding each other’s “Why” can find ways to prevent unwanted weight to sneak up. Planning healthy portioned dinners along with date night exercise sessions, communication is key!
