SAULT STE MARIE, ON ---- September 26, 2011 ---- You know that song that goes, “Love and marriage go 
together like a horse and carriage”? Well, apparently weight gain goes together with marriage, too, especially for women. A recent study out of Ohio State University analyzed the body mass index (BMI) of more than 10 000 people over a two year period after marriage and found that large weight gain is more likely for women after they get married.
Researchers of the study commented, “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. On the other hand, studies show that married men get a health benefit from marriage…”
I’m not sure this tells the whole story, although the researchers did control for common factors that affect weight gain, such as pregnancy, poverty, education and socioeconomic status. Some psychologists believe it can be due to a “post-courting rebound effect.” Basically, the theory is that a woman may “let go” and lessen the pressure upon herself physically once she has “caught her man.” (I’m guessing a man probably came up with this theory).
Anxiety and depression have also been suggested as possible reasons for the weight gain. These can take hold as responsibilities pile up – holding down a job, looking after children, scrimping and saving, never having a moment to yourself anymore, and so on. Comfort eating is a common response to anxiety and depression.
It’s difficult to gauge how much validity these theories hold. It’s interesting to note, however, that these studies typically focus on heterosexual married couples. Does the same hold true for common law couples, same sex couples, roommates living under the same roof for a long time?
A 2007 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that your risk of becoming obese increases by 37% if your spouse becomes obese. And other studies have shown that eating with anyone – be it a friend, a co-worker, etc – can cause us to eat 33% more than we would if we ate alone. So could weight gain after marriage just be largely due to eating with someone else more often?
Research and studies, of course, aren’t necessarily directly applicable to each of us, so it’s a good idea to identify the specific factors that are triggering weight gain in each individual case.
Regardless of the individual factors, however, there are certain steps any one can take to prevent post-marriage weight gain:
• Awareness – Just being aware of the potential may be enough to keep your weight in check.
• Spend “healthy” time together – Check out a local farmer’s market on the weekend, for example, to make healthier meal choices together.
• Schedule an exercise date – Couples who work out together are more likely to stick with an exercise program. Try a sport that you both enjoy or go for a hike together. Some experts suggest that couples who exercise more frequently have better sex lives, too.
For health reasons, significant weight gain – at any stage in life - is worthwhile looking at and addressing as it may be a symptom of underlying concerns.
Natural Approach to Health
For Lake Superior News
Dr. Candice Esposito, ND
www.HealingClinic.ca
Twitter: @CandiceND
Facebook.com/saultnaturopath
