Marital happiness is linked to weight gain, according to a new study.
The study conducted by the Southern Methodist University in Dallas suggests that couples in a happy marriage are more likely to gain weight, compared to unhappy couples who may avoid putting on weight to attract new potential partners.
Lead researcher Andrea L Meltzer surveyed 169 pairs of newlyweds in their first marriage, who reported twice a year on how content they were. They were asked about marital stresses and whether they had considered divorce. At the same time their height and weight were recorded to calculate their body mass index (BMI).
Meltzer said:
“On average, spouses who were more satisfied with their marriage were less likely to consider leaving their marriage, and they gained more weight over time. In contrast, couples who were less satisfied in their relationship tended to gain less weight over time.”
She added:
“Spouses who were less happy in their marriage were more likely to consider leaving their partner and on average gained less weight over time.”
The study was undertaken by the university’s Department of Psychology.
