Marriage and construction of a life for two is an important milestone, but it can bring challenges to the health, especially when it comes to weigh. A new study conducted by the National Institute of Cardiology of Warsaw, Poland, revealed that marriage can triple the chances of obesity In men, while for women this impact was not significant.
The research, which will be officially presented in May at the European Congress on Obesity, analyzed data of 2,405 adults, with an average age of 50 years, and identified that the obesity rate among married ones is 3.2 times higher em .
But what is behind this phenomenon? Alessandra Rascovski, endocrinologist and clinical director of ATMA Soma, explains that the change in food routine and the after marriage may be among the main factors.
“Many men end up taking care of feeding aside and adopt more sedentary habits, especially when compared to the period prior to marriage, when they may be more concerned with appearance,” he comments.
For women, although weight gain can also happen, the social pressure To maintain form it seems to act as a compensatory factor.
Dr. Alicja Cicha-Mikolajczyk, author of the study, concluded that the marriage has a “Undeniable impact” In the rates of “the way society sees obesity in women is different from men – they are stigmatized more often. We assume that women have greater difficulty in accepting to live with obesity and, therefore, are more likely to adopt measures to lose weight.”
But what changes in food after marriage?
Life for two often changes the way meals are made. Often, the couple, without realizing it, can increase the frequency of consumption of more caloric dishes.
In addition, social events, delivery requests and that shared “snack” on the sofa at night can contribute to weight accumulation over time. “Marriage is a new phase, with new experiments and adaptations. And food is part of it,” says Rascovski.
Another change is in the practice of. While singles can maintain a more active routine – either by sports hobbies or concern for appearance – married men tend to reduce these activities. “Without realizing it, many start prioritizing moments of rest and leisure as a couple, leaving aside habits that were once common, such as gym or sports,” adds the expert.
Although the risk of obesity increases, there is another positive side: marriage, in general, is associated with health benefits. A study conducted during the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American College of Cardiology, which evaluated data from more than 3.5 million people in the United States, revealed that married people are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease compared to singles, divorced and widows.
According to the research, married individuals presented a 5% reduction in the risk of vascular diseases8% less chance of abdominal aortic aneurysm, 9% less risk of cerebrovascular diseases and 19% less propensity to peripheral arterial diseases.
“Marriage can be an incentive for healthier habits, as long as the couple is aware and seek to balance pleasure and well-being,” says Rascovski. The key, she said, is in mutual support for a harmonic routine and an active life.
How to avoid weight gain after marriage?
If the tendency to weight gain exists, there are also effective ways to avoid it. Some strategies include:
- Food Planning: Prepare balanced meals and avoid excess ultra -processed foods;
- Physical activity in couple: Find exercises they both like, such as walks, dance or gym;
- Consciousness in portions: Avoid exaggerations in quantities and pay attention to emotional consumption;
- Balanced social moments: interleave gastronomic outputs with programs involving movement, such as outdoor tours.
In Brazil, in general, obesity is already considered a public health problem. Estimates of the World Obesity Atlas indicate that by 2030, about 68% of the adult population may be overweight or obesity. For Rascovski, it is essential that both public policies and individual changes help to contain this advance.
“We need to look at obesity without stigmas, but responsibly, offering information and conditions so that people can have a healthy and affordable diet.”
Although the Polish study is not definitive and more research is necessary, it highlights the importance of observing the habits of life that arise after marriage. The challenge is to find a healthy balance between the moments shared by two and health care, to ensure that this phase of life is both enriching and beneficial to physical and mental well-being.
“Marriage can be a starting point for a healthier lifestyle, as long as couples are attentive to your eating routines And physical activities, always with mutual support to keep health up to date, ”concludes Alessandra Rascovski.
