Scientists Confirm That Being In A Relationship Makes You Gain Weight

Mar 23, 2018

A lot of single people like to make sure they’re always looking and acting their best because they never know if a potential partner is going to cross their path. A single person often feels inclined to work out, dress sharp, and look presentable when they’re on the hunt for love.

Not to say people in relationships don’t care about their looks, but a happy couple may not feel this unseen pressure to appear attractive at all times. Being in a relationship means you have someone to spend time with and love unconditionally instead of sitting on the couch swiping through countless Tinder profiles.

However, relationships do have their downsides, and the problem may be resting on your gut.
 

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia analyzed data from 15,000 people and found that the people in happy relationships often weighed more than their single counterparts. According to their research, couples weighed an average of 12.7lbs (5.8kg) more than single people, and people who were in happy, committed relationships seemed to gain at least 4lbs (1.8kg) a year!

“When couples don’t need to look attractive and slim to attract a partner, they may feel more comfortable eating more, or eating more foods high in fat and sugar,” Stephanie Schoeppe, the leader of the research team, told New Scientist.
 

READ MORE: 10 Easy-To-Implement Tips To Help You Lose Weight Faster

Couples were asked how often they eat fast food, how active they are, and how much they watch TV and and drink alcohol together. Though couples were more likely to eat fruits and vegetables and drink and smoke less, they no longer felt a need to watch their weight.

Couples with kids were even more likely to put on extra pounds since parents tend to eat their child’s leftover meals and snacks.

"Marriage (or de-facto relationships) comes with spousal obligations such as regular family meals," explained Schoeppe. "While they may include more healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables and less fast food, people often consume larger portion sizes and more calories in the company of others than they do alone, resulting in increased energy intake."
 

If you’re happy, healthy, and comfortable, then putting on some extra weight while being with your partner shouldn’t be a big deal.

Do you know someone who is feeling uncomfortable about possible weight gain from their relationship? Having this article on your Facebook feed might be useful to them :)