Married men are three times more likely to be obese than single men

In women, however, there is no such dramatic increase in risk. However, marriage increases the likelihood of being overweight by 62% in men and 39% in women. These data were obtained by researchers from the National Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw (Poland), the head of the group is Dr Alicia Cicha-Mikolajczyk.

Source: European Congress on Obesity

Age also plays a prominent role, with each additional year of life increasing the likelihood of overweight and obesity in both men and women.

The study was based on medical data from the WOBASZ II large-scale health survey of Polish residents, which included 2405 adults (1098 men and 1307 women). The average age of the participants was 50 years. Among them, 35.3 per cent were of normal weight, 38.3 per cent were overweight and 26.4 per cent were obese.

The participants also underwent special psychological and sociological tests that assessed their level of health literacy, signs of depression and degree of social support. Analyses of these factors revealed their association with an increased risk of developing obesity.

The results showed that more than half of the participants (59%) had secondary or higher education, 55% had an adequate level of health literacy, and 50% had sufficient social support. Signs of depression were found in 15% of the respondents. Cardiovascular disease was found in 12 per cent of normal-weight individuals, 18 per cent of overweight individuals, and 28 per cent of obese individuals.

One of the key findings of the study was the finding of a strong link between marriage and being overweight. Married men were 62 per cent more likely to be overweight and 3.2 times more likely to be obese compared to single men. In women, the differences were less pronounced: marriage increased the risk of being overweight by 39 per cent, but no significant association with obesity was found.

According to the study authors, the lack of a striking association between marriage and obesity in women may be due to cultural and social differences in attitudes towards overweight between men and women.

Age was found to be an important risk factor for both men and women: each year of life increased the risk of being overweight by 3 per cent in men and 4 per cent in women. The risk of obesity increased by 4 per cent in men and 6 per cent in women each year.

Additional findings from the study focused on place of residence and psychological factors. For example, women living in small communities (less than 8,000 people) had a 46% higher risk of obesity and a 42% higher risk of being overweight. The reasons for this phenomenon are still being clarified and may be related to social or environmental factors. In men, no relationship between population size and weight was found.

In addition, women with low health literacy had a 43% increased risk of obesity and the presence of depressive symptoms almost doubled the risk. No such associations were found in men.

The study authors conclude: Age and marital status have a clear influence on the development of overweight and obesity in adults, regardless of gender. In women, low health literacy and the presence of depression were also important factors. Our results emphasise the need to actively disseminate knowledge about healthy lifestyles and obesity prevention among the population of all ages.