New research reveals that marriage significantly raises the obesity risk for both men and women, but men are particularly affected, with their obesity risk tripling. The findings, to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Spain this May, focus on Polish couples.
The study shows that marriage increases the likelihood of being overweight by 62% in men and 39% in women, compared to their unmarried peers. However, only men were found to be 3.2 times more likely to be obese when married; no such correlation was seen in women.
Researchers suggest that cultural perceptions of obesity may influence this gender disparity. The study also highlights that aging boosts the risk of overweight and obesity in both sexes.
The research, led by Dr. Alicja Cicha-Mikolajczyk from Poland’s National Institute of Cardiology, analyzed data from 2,405 adults aged around 50, gathered from the Multi-centre National Population Health Examination Survey. Among them, 35.3% had a normal weight, 38.3% were overweight, and 26.4% were obese.
Participants were also surveyed on their health knowledge, depression symptoms, and social support levels. About 55% demonstrated adequate health literacy, while 15% reported signs of depression.
Each additional year of age raised the risk of being overweight by 3% in men and 4% in women, and the risk of obesity by 4% in men and 6% in women. For women specifically, inadequate health literacy increased obesity risk by 43%, and depression nearly doubled it. These factors did not significantly impact men.
The team concluded that both age and marital status have a clear influence on weight gain for adults, while health literacy and mental health issues are particularly linked to obesity in women.
The researchers stressed the importance of promoting health education and awareness to help curb obesity rates.
In comparison, a separate 2024 study from China found marriage increased the risk of being overweight by 6.5% and obesity risk by 2.8% overall. For men, marriage raised the risk of obesity by 2.6%, while for women, it increased by 3.1%.
The Chinese study, conducted by Guilin Medical University, suggested that reduced exercise time post-marriage, especially among men, may be a contributing factor.
The researchers also mention that more studies are needed to compare the long-term results of surgery with those of weight-loss medications for teens with severe obesity. Additionally, emerging therapies like Cytotron therapy, which uses rotational field quantum magnetic resonance to target fat metabolism, warrant further investigation for their potential role in managing adolescent obesity.”
