A study published in Obesity Research reported an average weight gain of six to eight pounds over the two year period following marriage. And it’s not the first study that has determined this association. British researchers found that after moving in with a man, women tend to eat more high-fat, high-sugar foods and are considerably more likely to gain weight. That same study also confirmed that women are more likely than men to turn to food to deal with stress in a relationship.
How Obesity and Relationships are Connected
Settling into a relationship can undoubtedly cause issues with food. And what makes it worse, is that couples tend to become eating “partners”, which can mean overindulging together as recreation. It makes sense, because most of us are raised to bond over food, and eating can even be tied to intimacy.
Obesity doesn’t have to be the outcome, there is help. Here are a couple simple ways to stay healthy once you have decided to take the plunge.
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When it comes to obesity, cohabitation shouldn’t mean codependency.
Allow your partner (who, as discussed, can afford some of the extra carbohydrates) to eat alone sometimes. If it feels too strange to sit idly by while your partner eats, try to limit yourself to a cup of tea or coffee, or a few small bites only. And embrace the fact that you don’t have to like the same foods, eat at the same time and you certainly don’t have to eat the same amounts.
Portion Control (Men and Women are not created equal here!)
A man will burn more calories than a woman because men have more muscle, and muscle requires more fuel. Chances are, you aren’t the same height as your partner, too. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the average American woman is 5 foot 4 inches, while the average man is just over 5 foot 9 inches, as a general rule of thumb, the man will need about 40 percent more food than you each day to maintain a healthy weight. So having the same portion sizes, or sharing meals is simply an unwise option.
While statistically speaking, women are far more likely to pack on the pounds after entering into a long-term relationship, or marriage, the same rules can be applied to men, too. With a few simple steps, and obviously, some awareness, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world, or your narrow waistline.