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There seems to be a consensus on the fact that couples in maritalrelationships tend to gain weight more than singles. But the reasoningbehind is still being researched. Here are some of the arguments toexplain why marriage causes weight gain from various scientists.

Off the MarketEffect:

Most single would agree with me when I say it is a jungleout there. And no matter what anybody says, the athletic physical appearance is‘the’ number one weapon to attract mates. Once you attract one, and if you are afirm believer of monogamy, you can hang your weapon on the wall (Sobal1984).  

The counter argument is based on a research among couples where there has beena considerable weight loss by one of the mates. The researchers found thatthese couples seem to have improved relationships. So to make the marriageexperience more pleasurable, couples need to avoid being overweight; if we goback to our metaphor, you may still need your weapon to protect your territory.(JAMA 1982)

Marital Selection andMarital Causation:

This is a very interesting theory. It basically states that thechanges of overweight singles getting married are lower than the others andeven if they do, they do it at an older age. This means physically athleticsingles are ‘selected’ into marriage. (aka marital selection). And due the moresedentary life style, childbirth and less incentive the opposite sex of themarriage life ‘causes’ you get weight. (marital causation).

Shared commons:

It was found that people living the same environment tend tohave closer Body Mass Index (BMI). And the tendency is for the lower BMI tocatch up to the higher. Apart from the ‘off the market effect’ and maritalselection-causation; another reason for weight gain after marriage is theincreased number of opportunities for more eating. When dining. couples eatmore then they would if they were single.

On another point, the marital status is claimed to affectmen and women separately. Here are the findings of Sobal (2002) published inJournal of Social Sciences and Medicine

“          Maritaltrajectories involving entry into marriage were associated with weight gainamong women, but not among men.

Marital trajectory involving dissolving marriages wereassociated with weight loss among men, but not women.

Marital trajectories involving death of a spouse wereassociated with weight loss among men, but not women.”

Overall, marriage, like in any other aspect of our lives,can have an impact on our body weight. After all it is a major change in oneslife. Knowing these possible affects and how they work can help us betterprepare for them and thus embrace the experience without suffering from theside effects.

Sobal J. 1984.“Marriage, Obesity and Dieting.” Marriage and Family Review.7:115-139.

Rand CS,Kuldau JM, Robbins L. 1982. “Surgery for Obesity and Marriage Quality.”247(10): 1419-1422

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