Research by Penny Gordon-Larsen, professor at the University of North Carolina (UNC), reveals that couples living together are twice as likely to be obese compared to those living separately.
Couples cohabiting for more than two years often adopt similar fattening habits. The study indicates that the longer couples live together, the greater their obesity risk.
Fortunately, marriage brings health benefits too. Married individuals smoke less and live longer than their unmarried counterparts.
Gordon-Larsen attributes weight gain to lifestyle shifts: "Married people often eat together, prepare larger meals, dine out more frequently than singles, and watch TV instead of exercising. To combat obesity, encourage young couples to positively influence each other's habits and sidestep those extra marriage pounds," she advises.
