Scientists confirm what women have always known… men really DO ‘let themselves go’ after marriage
Scientists have confirmed what women have always known: men become fat and lazy after marriage.
Men start packing on the pounds within five years of tying the knot because they eat more calories and exercise less, the researchers found.
They found that marriage is ‘associated with a significant effect’ on BMI scores, with 5.2 per cent of married men being overweight and obesity rates rising by 2.5 per cent.
However, there was no evidence of a similar trend among women.
Men start packing on the pounds within five years of tying the knot because they eat more calories and exercise less, researchers found (stock)
The study was conducted in China, but researchers believe it is an international problem.
Shiwen Quan of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said: ‘This phenomenon, commonly called ‘happy fat’, has been substantiated by numerous cohort studies conducted in developed Western countries.
‘After getting married, men often exercise less and eat more, which leads to a higher BMI.
‘Men are at significant risk of obesity as they get older, so after marriage it is important that they do not ‘let themselves go’ by maintaining healthy eating habits and exercising regularly.
‘In contrast, there was no clear trend for women’s BMI after marriage.’
The study, published in Economics & Human Biology, shows that men’s BMI scores continue to rise within the first five years after marriage, followed by a period of stabilization.
The researchers said it highlights the importance of promoting physical fitness and health management within families – and suggested health authorities should target newlyweds with nutritional advice.
They said public health policies should view marriage as “a window of intervention” to meet individuals’ weight management needs, and that “post-marriage body management plans” should be designed for both sexes.
Previous research has shown that the greater an individual’s satisfaction with his or her intimate relationship, the more likely he or she is to become obese.
A previous study also found that the average person wins more than 2nd after meeting their partner.
WHAT SHOULD A BALANCED DIET LOOK LIKE?
Meals should be based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, preferably whole grains, according to the NHS
• Eat at least 5 portions of varied fruit and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruits and vegetables count
• Basic meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, preferably whole wheat
• 30 grams of fiber per day: This is the same as eating all of the following: 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, 2 whole wheat cereal biscuits, 2 thick slices of whole wheat bread and large baked potato with skin on
• Provide some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soy drinks), opting for lower fat and lower sugar options
• Eat some beans, legumes, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 portions of fish per week, one portion of which is fatty)
• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consume them in small quantities
• Drink 6-8 cups/glasses of water per day
• Adults should have less than 6 g of salt and 20 g of saturated fat for women or 30 g for men per day
Source: NHS Eatwell Guide