A new study from the National Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw, Poland, suggests that marriage may contribute to weight gain—but not in the same way for men and women, New York Post reports.
Researchers found that married men are significantly more likely to become overweight or obese compared to their single counterparts, while women face a more moderate increase in weight after tying the knot.
According to the study, men who are married face a 62% higher risk of becoming overweight and are 3.2 times more likely to develop obesity compared to unmarried men. For women, marital status did not show a direct link to obesity, but it did increase the risk of being overweight by 39%.
In addition to marital status, age was also a key factor in weight gain. Researchers found that with each passing year, both men and women had an increased likelihood of becoming overweight or obese.
One possible explanation for this gender difference is the way marriage influences lifestyle habits. Previous research has shown that men often eat more and exercise less after getting married, leading to gradual weight gain. Some studies suggest that the happier a person is in their relationship, the more likely they are to experience weight gain—a phenomenon often called “happy fat.”
Interestingly, the study also found geographic differences in obesity risk for women. Women living in smaller communities (with populations under 8,000) were 46% more likely to be obese and 42% more likely to be overweight than those in larger cities. However, this trend was not observed in men.
Obesity is a growing public health concern in many countries, including the United States, where about 42% of men and 46% of women were classified as obese in 2021. Excess weight increases the risk of serious health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.
