Why married men gain weight

Life as a singleton might be filled with awkward first dates, countless left swipes on Tinder and the fears of being ghosted, but it’s not without its perks. A new study from researchers at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom found that marriage could cause weight gain.

Using data obtained from more than 8,000 men in the United States, scientists found that married men had a higher Body Mass Index and weighed roughly three pounds more than their single peers. What’s more, men were more likely to gain weight as new husbands and fathers. The findings reveal that the newlywed phase and period following the birth of children marked increases in BMI.

The team behind the study theorize that married people have more social outings involving richer foods, and that under the influence of their wives, men eat more regular meals than they would when left to their own devices. Plus, they indicate the added social pressure of finding a mate could incentivize some to stay fit.

“It's useful for individuals to understand which social factors may influence weight gain, especially common ones such as marriage and parenthood, so that they can make informed decisions about their health and well-being,” said study co-author Dr. Joanna Syrda, professor of economics at the university, in a statement. “For married men who want to avoid BMI increases that will mean being mindful of their own changing motivation, behaviour and eating habits.”

Many times, life events (good and bad) are marked with weight loss and gains. Outside of marriage, these three milestones could lead to a larger waistline:

Getting Promoted

Adding more responsibility into an already tight work week could also cause you to pack on the pounds. A study from last year revealed that people older than 50 who worked at least nine hours a day were more likely to be obese. According to Business Insider, getting tasked with extra responsibilities also leads to higher BMIs - roughly half of those promoted to managers gain weight.

Planning A Getaway

Vacations might be beneficial to your mental health, but Women’s Health reports on research from the University of Georgia showing that travelers can gain up to seven pounds while away. Not to mention that eating and drinking with abandon could cause some to stick with the habit once they’re home. "You do so much damage in such a short time, you just can’t exercise enough to overcome it," study author Jamie Cooper, Ph.D., told the magazine.

Celebrating Your 30th Birthday

Women’s Health explains that we burn about five less calories a day by the time we’re 30. Over the course of 10 years, that comes out to approximately five extra pounds. For women, a slower metabolism can make it more difficult to eat that daily bowl of ice cream without gaining weight. “By the late twenties, many women notice that they can’t eat the same things they used to without gaining weight and that the weight doesn’t fall off as easily as it once did,” Christopher Ochner, Ph.D. and NYC weight loss expert, told the magazine.