Is Your Partner Making You Fat?
Research into how eating habits change after moving in with
a partner. Plus advice on how to get your diets off on the right
track from dietitian Juliette Kellow.
Is Your Partner Making You Fat?
By WLR Dietitian
That very much depends on whether you are male or female
according to dietitians from Newcastle University!
The University reviewed seven studies looking at the diets of
men and women after they began living with a partner, and
discovered that women were more likely to fall into bad eating
habits and gain weight when they started living with a man –
even though they encouraged their lover to eat more healthily.
In contrast, men appeared to benefit from their partner’s
influence in the kitchen by eating more fruit and veg and less
meat and so were more likely to lose weight!
The researchers suggest this happens because both people try
to please one another when they first live together by
changing their diets.
Study author Dr Amelia Lake says, “Couples who move in
together should use the opportunity of the honeymoon period to
make positive changes to their diet and lifestyle by working
together and supporting each other.” But Dr Lake also adds that
it’s never too late to make changes – even if it feels like
you’ve been together forever!
Weight Loss Resources says:
At last a study that proves what most of us have known for a
long time – once women find the love of their life, they’re
often on the way to finding love handles, too. It seems that men
benefit the most from living together when it comes to their
waistlines. So here are some tips for ladies to ensure they also
stay in shape.
Do…
- Continue cooking the healthy, low-fat meals you used to
make before you met your love match.
- Keep going to the gym or aerobics classes – if you feel and
look fit, your love life is guaranteed to stay in tip top shape.
- Keep active at the weekend – a romantic night in with a
bottle of wine and a takeaway might be tempting but you’ll burn
more calories and probably have more fun by having a night out
dancing.
- Continue to use your legs and walk as much as you did
before – just because your partner offers to give you a lift
doesn’t mean you have to say yes.
- Do take up the offer of your partner cooking for you, but
encourage him to swap his favourite ingredients – lots of oil,
cream, cheese and fatty meats, for example – for lower-calorie
ones.
Don’t…
- Spend all your dates in restaurants, wine bars or the pub –
have more active dates instead. For example, go ten-pin bowling,
have a romantic walk in the park or enjoy a sauna and swim.
- Start eating the same sized portions as your partner – and
still go back for seconds.
- Get stuck into believing the way to a man’s heart is
through his stomach and so constantly cook all his favourites
like fried food and chips.
- Eat your way through the weekend – it’s easy to constantly
enjoy croissants, fried breakfasts, chocolate, cakes and
takeaways when you’re in love!
- Swap skimpy tops and tight jeans for baggy jumpers and
jogging bottoms as you no longer feel you need to make an effort
all of the time. You’ll find it harder to notice your expanding
waistline.
Getting Married - Members' Comments
Lifestyle changes following marriage or moving in with your
partner were the main cause of weight gain for 13% of the women
in our survey. More a case of getting too comfortable than
comfort eating!
“More nights in, more food, more alcohol etc
coupled with not going to the gym, or running as much. Didn’t
help that I got shin splints and couldn’t exercise, but I should
have modified my eating at that point but didn’t.”
LAWRANLM
“When I got into a long term relationship, many
dates involved food – meals out, drinking, cinema with popcorn &
ice cream. I was so comfortable with my man, it didn’t seem to
matter if I put on a bit of weight.”
WOODRUL
“Moving in with my boyfriend (now Husband) and
at the same time stopping going to the gym – a complete change
of routine from being active almost every day to hardly doing
anything at all and also going out more (beer, curry….!).”
SALLYDRAYTON
“Getting married meant cooking regular meals
and evenings at home instead of the skipped meals and more
active single life so that was the start. Then 3 children
getting heavier with each.”
SUEREEVES
“I moved in with my partner and started eating
meals etc. Until then I had no problems remaining 9 stone and a
size 10, then went up to 10 ½ stone. Being content is worst
factor for me, and it also happens very slowly.”
JAY123
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