Men More Likely to Gain Weight After Divorce, Women After Marriage

Marriage, divorce and weight seem to go hand in hand, according to a new study.

Researchers at Ohio State University found individuals were highly likely to experience a significant weight gain (21+ pounds) within the first two years of either getting married or getting divorced.

However, after looking at 10,0071 men and women, researchers found this weight gain was tied closely to gender, with men more likely to gain weight after a divorce and women more likely to gain weight after marriage.

“Individuals were likely to experience weight gain

within two years of getting married or divorced.”

Weight gains were much more likely among individuals who experienced their transition after they turned 30, as individuals who experienced marital transitions in their 20s generally maintained the same BMI.

Study co-author Zchenchao Qian explained his theories on the data and its split along gender lines:

“Married women often have a larger role around the house than men do, and they may have less time to exercise and stay fit than similar unmarried women,” he said. “On the other hand, studies show that married men get a health benefit from marriage, and they lose that benefit once they get divorced, which may lead to their weight gain.”

However, weight gain among older individuals may have less to do with biology and more to do with habits, as lead author Dmitry Tumin notes:

“As you get older, having a sudden change in your life like a marriage or a divorce is a bigger shock than it would have been when you were younger, and that can really impact your weight,” he said.

Source: OSU.edu. Photo source: freeimageslive.co.uk.