Married men have three times higher risk of obesity, study finds

Bad news for married men: they have a three times higher risk of obesity compared to their single counterparts. Meanwhile, women show no increased risk, according to new research.

Obesity is a growing global issue, with numbers more than doubling since 1990. Experts predict that over half of adults and a third of children will be overweight by 2050.

While poor diet, lack of exercise, and genetics play a role, researchers from the National Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw investigated additional factors. Their study, presented at the European Obesity Congress in Málaga, revealed that married men are 3.2 times more likely to develop obesity than single men. Women, however, showed no increased risk, though marriage generally leads to weight gain for both genders.

Previous studies from China and the University of Bath support these findings, showing men tend to gain weight after marriage due to larger portions and reduced physical activity.