The other night I was out to dinner with a friend and we were catching up on the essentials – work, travel, family, boys, etc, and at one point of the conversation I got stuck on the thought that boys are making us lovely ladies fat! My friend continued that she has gained a few unwanted “lbs” and she is determined it’s becuase of her boyfriends unhealthly habits.

I had to stop her in tracks because no matter how healthy or unhealthy your loved one is (male or female), there is the challenge of gaining weight. A study in the Journal of Economics and Human Biology examined data from 12,000 men and women ages 18 to mid-40s and compared BMIs of singletons to husbands and wives and found married men had an increased BMI by 1.5% above what they would naturally gain as they aged, and the women jumped up by 2%. Are you surprised with my friends’ comment and with what this 2008 study found? I am not.

I love my boyfriend to death and regardless of his love for pizza, we in the big picture have a pretty active and healthy lifestyle. However, with our relationship we have plenty of social obligations, dinner dates, making meals together and the basic desire of just wanting to hang out. Overall, relationships take time and the time spent together maybe replacing the time you used to spend running errands, shopping, hitting the gym for longer sessions and/or other active activities. The combination of of more socializing/eating out/eating more and a aging/slowing metabolism, brings on a true weight management challenge.

Another study published in Obesity looked at 1,200 plus young adults, 18-27 years of age, who were married, living together or dating. Consistent with the first study mentioned in this post, the married couples gained the most weight. They were three times more likely to both be obese, whereas the cohabiting couples had close to double the risk and guess who the thinnest were? The dating individuals of course. BUT the gainer doesn’t mean it is you or has to be you.

I am not trying to stear you into thinking you have to be single to whittle your middle. Yet, be aware of what you are eating and doing (or not doing).  When you make dinner together, serve the plates and put the leftovers away. Watch portions, partake in activities in place of couch time and find a happy healthy medium.

Relationships as well as weight loss takes work, but make sure you enjoy the ride on a healthy note.

Cheers to good health and have a healthy and fit day!