Marriage and Obesity: Insights from Recent Research
It’s a common stereotype that men tend to neglect their health as they reach middle age, often leading to weight gain and a decreased focus on fitness. However, a new study from the National Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw reveals that the factors contributing to weight gain in men are more complex than mere aging.
According to the research, marital status plays a significant role in a man’s likelihood of becoming obese. In fact, the study indicates that men who are married are three times more likely to become obese compared to their single counterparts. Interestingly, this increase in obesity risk is not mirrored in women; in fact, marriage raises the risk of being overweight by 62 percent in men and 39 percent in women when compared to unmarried individuals.
The research highlights that age does contribute to the risk of being overweight or obese for both genders. This difference in findings for men and women may stem from societal attitudes that vary between the sexes regarding body image and obesity. Dr. Alicja Cicha-Mikolajczyk, the lead author of the study, explained to The i Paper that societal perceptions toward men with obesity are often more lenient than those toward women. She stated:
“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 often accepted. We assume that women are more likely to take proactive steps to manage their weight, such as increasing physical activity or even returning to smoking.”
“Married men may feel less pressure to maintain a healthy weight if they are accepted by their partners, who may prioritize emotional and existential needs over physical appearance.”
Dr. Cicha-Mikolajczyk also emphasized the need for a shift in how obesity is perceived in society. Without recognizing obesity as a serious health issue, changing attitudes may remain a challenge.
The findings from this study will be presented at the upcoming European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain, in May. They are based on data collected from 2,405 participants in Poland, who were mainly around 50 years old. The study revealed that 35.3 percent of the participants had a normal weight, while 38.3 percent were classified as overweight, and 26.4 percent were considered obese.
Participants answered questions regarding their health awareness, experiences with depression, and the level of social support they received from family and friends. The study found that 55 percent had adequate health literacy, about 50 percent reported moderate social support, and 15 percent experienced depression. Notably, each additional year of age raised the risk of being overweight by 3 percent in men and 4 percent in women, while the risk of obesity increased by 4 percent in men and 6 percent in women.
For women, inadequate health literacy was associated with a 43 percent increased risk of obesity, and those with borderline depression had double the risk of being obese. This trend was not mirrored in men.
The research team concluded:
“Age and marital status undeniably influence the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adulthood, irrespective of gender. Additionally, inadequate health literacy and borderline depression were linked to obesity in women.”
“Our findings suggest that improving health literacy and promoting health awareness throughout life could help mitigate the rising levels of obesity.”
These findings are particularly relevant as marriage rates in the UK have been on the rise. In 2022, there were 246,897 marriages recorded in England and Wales, a 12.3 percent increase compared to 2019. Current estimates indicate that 64 percent of adults aged 18 and over in England are either overweight or living with obesity.
According to the latest government data, men over the age of 25 are more likely than women to exceed the normal body mass index (BMI). Specifically, approximately 39 percent of men and 28 percent of women over 25 are classified as overweight or obese.
This study supports earlier research that has drawn similar conclusions. A previous study indicated that married men tend to consume more calories, drink more alcohol, smoke more, and engage in significantly less physical activity than their unmarried peers. Analysis of men aged 18 to 45 living in approximately 6,000 households in China between 1989 and 2015 showed that many men experience weight gain shortly after marriage, with most of the weight typically gained within the first five years of matrimony.
