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My husband and I have been married for five years and you can tell by our waistlines. While we're both naturally pretty slim and try to exercise somewhat regularly, we've definitely put on a few pounds since we exchanged vows (that's us in the picture) and since we had our son. (In fact, my toddler's favorite activity these days is squeezing my belly and giggling hysterically. Thanks.)
New research, published in the journal Obesity and written about at BusinessWeek.com, found that married couples are twice as likely to become obese as people in romantic relationships who weren't married or living together. The longer couples are married, the greater the risk of gaining weight and becoming obese.
The researchers, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, say when people are living together they share behaviors, such as eating meals together and watching TV. The scientists also note that marriage provides a number of health benefits, including decreased cigarette smoking and lower mortality.
The researchers offer married or cohabitating couples some suggestions for keeping off those unwanted pounds. Instead of lounging in front of the TV together, 'exercise or cook healthy meals together,' said study co-author Penny Gordon-Larsen, an associate professor of nutrition at UNC's Gillings School of Global Public Health. Since spouses or partners tend to share behaviors, she adds, 'couples can use that phenomenon to their advantage if they are aware of what's going on.'
In an interesting result, the study found that while women living with, but not married to, a romantic partner were also more likely to become obese, men cohabitating with a romantic partner had no increased risk of obesity. The researchers said that they are still unclear why that may be the case.
Although the study focused on marriage and cohabitation and their relation to obesity, I also imagine that having children might play a role. Since I had my son last year, as I've written about before, I find myself exercising my fingers on the remote these days far more than I hit the gym, because of the lack of time and energy associated with being a working parent. After a long day of work at the office parents may want to rush home to the family not the treadmill.
Readers, have you and your partner or spouse put on a few pounds together? Have any of you lost weight together? 2009-07-01
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