Adapted by:
Pablo Martínez-Juarez
WriterEnvironmental economist and science journalist. For a few years, I worked as a researcher on the economics of climate change adaptation. Now I write about that and much more.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
There’s a widespread notion that marriage is associated with weight gain. Now, a group of researchers has proven that this idea is true, at least to some extent.
An unequal effect. A new study found that men’s risk of obesity significantly increases after marriage—it even triples. However, the same study found no significant change in the odds for women. Still, the risk of becoming overweight rose in both groups.
The results should still be interpreted with caution, as the study’s details haven’t yet been peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal. The researchers will present their findings this spring at the 32nd European Congress on Obesity, held in May in Malaga, Spain.
Why do we get fat? There are many answers to this question. The simplest is that our bodies take in more calories than they burn, storing energy as fat.
But that’s only part of the story. A host of genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors correlate with the risk of people becoming overweight or obese throughout their lives. Experts are beginning to find that marriage is one of them.
A 3.2 times higher risk. The study found that marriage increased men’s risk of developing obesity by a factor of 3.2. At the same time, the effect wasn’t significant for women. The analysis of the risk of becoming overweight showed a less pronounced difference.
The study team observed a 62% increase in the risk of becoming overweight in men and a 39% increase in the risk for women.
Multiple factors. The study analyzed other factors associated with this relationship, revealing additional interesting associations. In women, for example, depression doubled the risk, while a lack of health knowledge increased the risk by 43%.
These factors and associations help explain what’s happening behind the data. However, the hypotheses are diverse (and complementary). For instance, less physical activity in men and social pressure in women may help explain the disparity.
“The research also suggests that men may be more likely to gain weight after marriage due to factors like increased portion sizes, social eating, and a decline in physical activity, whereas women perhaps remain more conscious of body weight due to societal pressures,” Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, told The Guardian.
Age is also a factor. As expected, age is another crucial factor. The study showed that age affected the likelihood of becoming overweight or obese, with the effect more significant in women than in men. For example, the risk of obesity increased by 3% per year for men and 4% per year for women.
Understanding the context. Understanding the effect of factors such as marriage can help develop more effective policies to address obesity and overweight. The ultimate goal is to tackle public health problems, such as the rise in some non-communicable diseases for which obesity and overweight are risk factors.
Image | Olivia Bauso (Unsplash)
Log in to leave a comment