Study Finds Marriage Increases Obesity Risk for Men, Not Women

Marriage is often seen as a life-changing event, but for men, it can bring an unexpected and concerning consequence – an increased risk of obesity. According to a medical study conducted in Poland, men tend to gain weight significantly after marriage, but surprisingly, women are not affected in the same way.

The study highlights that since 1990, the global obesity rate has doubled, with more than 2.5 billion adults and children now suffering from obesity or excess weight. While factors like junk food consumption, genetics, environmental toxins, and various diseases contribute to obesity, this study aimed to explore other potential causes.

For the research, the medical and general health data of 2,405 individuals, with an average age of 50, were analyzed. The study investigated how factors like age, marital status, mental health, and other elements contribute to weight gain.

The results showed that married men are 3.2 times more likely to become obese compared to unmarried men, but this risk does not increase for married women. In fact, the likelihood of weight gain for married men is 62%, while for women, it is 39%.

These findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity. A previous study by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 2024 found that marriage increased men’s chances of weight gain by 5.2%, with a 2.5% higher risk of obesity. The research suggested that the reason for men gaining weight after marriage is due to overeating and a decrease in physical activity.

It was found that within five years of marriage, men’s body weight is notably affected, but no significant difference was observed in women. Similarly, a study by Bath University in the UK discovered that, on average, married men weighed 1.4 kilograms more than their unmarried counterparts.

The new study also revealed that age plays a role in weight gain, with the likelihood of obesity increasing by 3% per year for men and 4% for women. Some factors, however, were found to specifically increase obesity risk in women, such as lack of health knowledge, which raised the risk by 43%. This was not the case for men.

The researchers concluded that social, psychological, and environmental factors contribute to the increased risk of obesity or excess weight. They emphasized that after marriage, men tend to eat more, socialize more frequently, and engage in less physical activity, all of which lead to weight gain.