Why a happy marriage could weigh you down
A long and happy marriage is what most newlyweds would hope for as they tie the knot, but according to US research, contentment could end up weighing you down.
Pic: Getty
A study by researchers from the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas suggests that happy couple are more likely to gain weight as complacency about their own attractiveness sets in.
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Tracking the marital satisfaction and weight of 169 couples over the course of four years found that those who were content in their relationship piled on the pounds, while those were "less satisfied" were less likely to put on weight.
And the scientists claim the findings challenge the belief that a happy marriage comes with health benefits.
Psychologist Andrea L Meltzer, who led the study, puts the weight gain down to the fact that happy couples were less likely to "consider leaving their marriage" and were therefore less inclined to keep themselves slim in order to attract another potential mate.
According to the Daily Mail, she said: "These findings suggest that people perhaps are thinking about their weight in terms of appearance rather than health."
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Ms Meltzer added: "We know that weight gain can be associated with a variety of negative health consequences, for example, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
"By focusing more on weight in terms of health implications as opposed to appearance implications, satisfied couples may be able to avoid potentially unhealthy weight gain over time in their marriages."
Did you put on weight once you were married? Would you agree with the researchers' claims? Leave your comments below...
