We've all read the articles and heard the tales -- when people fall in love and settle in with a partner, they tend to gain weight.
So what happens on the flip side, when the weight that's accumulated starts to really make an impact?
The Associated Press reported a story on Tuesday about a woman who challenged her then-366-pound husband to lose some weight. He now weighs in at 168 pounds, meaning a loss of almost 200 pounds since January 1.
While that speaks highly of this particular couple, other outlets are noting a far more disconcerting trend. In July, it was reported that 50 per cent of men surveyed in a massive study would leave their partner if they gained weight. Women who are actively following diets, meanwhile, have been found to think more about food than sex or their relationships.
As for those who prefer to take weight loss matters into their owns hands, it seems that even they aren't to be trusted. One study in the UK found that when a partner in a long-term relationship suddenly starts paying more attention to their weight, it could be because they're 'preparing for the partner market'.
Professor Thomas Klein, of the University of Heidelberg, studies the relationship between weight and happiness. As he told the Daily Mail:
"When you are on the lookout for a new partner people try to be as thin and attractive as possible."
The moral of this story? If you're in a couple and about to embark on a weight loss endeavour, your best bets are to be male, get provoked into it by your partner -- or better yet, do it together.
--with files from The Canadian Press
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