The Weighty Truth About Married Men
Research reveals that married men are three times more likely to be obese compared to their unmarried counterparts. It seems that for many men, the indulgence of wedding cake comes with a hefty price tag—weight gain. Dr. Alicja Cicha-Mikolajczyk, the lead researcher from the National Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw, explained to The i Paper: “Married men do not have to try as hard to maintain a healthy weight if they feel accepted by their partners. This acceptance may lead to a decrease in attention to their weight and overall health.”
The prevailing assumption suggests that once men tie the knot, they may stop making an effort to maintain their physique. It’s a familiar narrative: the once svelte bachelor can now relax, kick back, crack open a cold lager, and indulge in an array of increasingly large pizzas.
Personally, I didn’t experience a significant weight gain after my marriage, thanks to an unorthodox life hack: I had a head start, having looked somewhat disheveled since childhood. At no point in my life did I resemble someone who had a full night’s sleep or didn’t primarily sustain themselves on sugary treats. If anything, I feel I look slightly better than I did a decade ago, likely because I don’t attend social gatherings anymore and find myself too exhausted from chasing after my daughter to stay awake past 9 PM. However, for those men who didn’t take my shortcut, the trend of gaining weight post-marriage is indeed a reality.
But is this phenomenon solely attributable to laziness? Or could there be deeper dynamics at play?
One argument posits that married men may not be abandoning their health but rather shifting their focus to new priorities. This is a broad generalization, but it appears that while women often view life through a lens that encompasses numerous factors requiring attention, men might approach it as a sequential list of tasks.
- Find a spouse? Check.
- Move on to the next priority.
It’s almost reminiscent of a video game—once you’ve completed a level in Tetris, there’s no need to revisit it; you simply advance to the next challenge. Having secured a partner can feel like a major milestone, and if staying fit was part of that initial task, it might inadvertently get sidelined. What’s next on the agenda? Perhaps delving into the world of home brewing or other hobbies.
For many, finding a partner and settling down represents one of life’s most significant milestones. The idea of simply checking that off as a completed task is quite compelling.
Men often find it easier to tackle short, finishable tasks rather than embracing more holistic approaches. Consider the way many heterosexual couples decorate their homes: the woman typically invests time in researching and planning aesthetics, colors, and ambiance, while the man often focuses on the physical labor of putting things together. This reflects the broader theme of big-picture thinking versus handling smaller, manageable tasks.
Making positive, health-conscious decisions feels more attainable for men when they are framed as smaller, concrete actions. While it’s clear that exercising more contributes to a healthier lifestyle, the concept can feel overwhelming and abstract, leading to existential musings about life’s ultimate purpose.
In contrast, having a specific goal—like signing up for a half-marathon—can motivate one to dust off their running shoes and hit the pavement. A tangible task with a deadline, coupled with the promise of a fun medal, makes it much more enticing. Initiatives like Stoptober and Dry January transform the nebulous idea of “health is good” into achievable tasks with clear start and end dates. This isn’t a new concept; we are currently in the midst of Lent, which historically serves as the Dry January of pancakes.
It’s essential to recognize that the complexities surrounding weight and gender are significant. Society has historically placed a greater emphasis on women’s appearances compared to men’s, and many women often develop a more intricate relationship with food than their male counterparts. Simplifying this to “women think this way, and men think that way” overlooks the multitude of factors at play.
However, it would be equally reductive to claim that married men are merely lazy or complacent, which leads them to let themselves go. Yes, there are certainly individuals who fit that mold, but for many husbands, their thoughts may just be occupied with other priorities. They might have a mental checklist of things to accomplish, lacking a sense of urgency regarding their health and well-being. It’s a sobering thought, and one I plan to address for myself—right after I finish this large bag of Tangfastics.
