Marriage and fatherhood can lead to weight gain in men, according to a study by Joanna Syrda of the University of Bath. The study, which analysed data from a long-term US study between 1999 and 2013, found that men who married or became fathers gained weight, while those who divorced lost weight. The study also found that men gained weight in the four years following the birth of a child, but not during pregnancy. Syrda suggested that a lack of time for exercise and a drop in testosterone levels could be factors in the weight gain.
The study analysed data from 8,729 men under the age of 65, who provided information on their marital status, height and weight every two years. During the study, 24% of the men married, 39% became fathers and 12% divorced. The average weight gain for married men was 1.4kg. Syrda suggested that the weight gain could be due to a lack of attention to physical fitness after marriage, or to the increased calorie intake from regular, richer meals eaten with a spouse.
The study also found that men lost weight before and after divorce, which Syrda suggested could be due to the stress of the situation. The study also compared weight gain in different countries, finding that German men gained more weight after marriage than Spanish men, but that the divorce rate was higher in Spain. Syrda suggested that in societies with higher divorce rates, men may pay more attention to their weight in order to remain attractive to potential partners. The study highlights the importance of understanding the social factors that can influence weight gain in order to make informed decisions about health and wellbeing.
