Tying the knot triples the risk of men being obese – but does not increase the risk for women
Men are often accused of letting themselves go in middle age, when a healthy diet and regular exercise are not always at the top of the agenda.
Researchers from the National Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw have confirmed some men are indeed more likely to pile on the pounds than others, but it isn’t just a question of age.
In fact, tying the knot triples a man’s risk of becoming obese compared to being single, but does not increase the risk for women.
Marriage also increases the risk of being overweight by 62 per cent in men and 39 per cent in women, compared to those who are unmarried. The study also found that getting older increases the risk of being overweight or obese for both sexes.
The lack of such a finding in women may be due to cultural differences in attitudes towards obesity in men and women, the researchers suggested.
Dr Alicja Cicha-Mikolajczyk, lead author of the study, told The i Paper: “The attitude of society towards men living with obesity is different – they are treated more favourably than comparable women and mild obesity in men is acceptable.
“We assume that women accept life with overweight, but they cannot accept living with obesity and they are more likely than men to take various actions to lose weight – such as increased physical activity, and even returning to smoking tobacco.
“Married men do not have to try so hard to maintain a normal weight if they are accepted by their partners. And female partners accept even men living with obesity if they satisfy their emotional and existential needs. So this may result that men pay less attention to their body weight and health.”
Dr Cicha-Mikolajczyk said that until obesity is no longer recognized as a disease, there is little chance of any change in attitudes.
Her team’s findings will be presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain, in May and are based on data taken from 2,405 people in Poland. These people were typically 50 years old – 35.3 per cent of the group had normal weight, 38.3 per cent were overweight and 26.4 per cent were obese.
People were asked questions regarding their knowledge about health, as well as any depression and social support (such as frequency of contact with family, friends and relatives).
Some 55 per cent of the group had adequate health literacy and at least moderate social support (50 per cent), while 15 per cent reported depression.
Each year of increased age increased the risk of being overweight by 3 per cent in men and 4 per cent in women, and the risk of obesity by 4 per cent in men and 6 per cent in women.
In women, having inadequate health literacy increased the risk of obesity by 43 per cent, while reporting at least borderline depression doubled the risk of obesity. This was not found in men.
The research team concluded: “Age and marital status have undeniable impact on living with overweight or obesity in adulthood regardless of sex. In turn, inadequate health literacy and having at least borderline depression were associated with obesity in women.
“It appears from our results that the dissemination of health knowledge and health promotion across the lifespan could reduce the worrying phenomenon of increasing levels of obesity.”
The findings will have particular relevance for British men with marriages on the up. There were 246,897 marriages in England and Wales in 2022 latest figures show, 12.3 per cent more when compared with 2019 (219,850).
In 2022 to 2023, 64 per cent of adults aged 18 years and over in England were estimated to be overweight or living with obesity.
According to the latest Government data, in England, from age 25, men are more likely than women to have a higher than normal body mass index (BMI).
In England, around 31 per cent of women over the age of 25 are currently predicted to be overweight, while 30 per cent are obese. For men, 39 per cent are overweight, while 28 per cent are obese.
The latest study backs up previous research which has had similar findings. Last year, a study found married men eat more calories, drink more booze, smoke more and are less active — playing only a third as much sport as their unmarried mates.
The study analysed data from men aged between 18 and 45 living at 6,000 homes in China between 1989 and 2015. Scientists said many men themselves go after tying the knot, putting on most flab in the first five years of marriage.