Marriage may come with love and companionship, but it also brings a significantly higher risk of weight gain—especially for men. According to a new study from Poland’s National Institute of Cardiology, married men are more than three times as likely to become obese compared to unmarried men. While both sexes tend to gain weight after tying the knot, men face a 62% increased risk of being overweight, whereas for women, the risk rises by 39%.

The research, which analyzed 2,405 Polish individuals with an average age of 50, found that weight gain is a natural progression with age. Each passing year increases the likelihood of being overweight by 3% in men and 4% in women, while the risk of obesity rises by 4% and 6%, respectively.

Interestingly, the study found that while men were far more likely to develop obesity post-marriage, the same pattern wasn’t mirrored in women. Researchers suggested that societal stigma may play a role, as women are more likely to take action to prevent weight gain due to higher societal expectations. Dr. Alicja Cicha-Mikolajczyk, the lead researcher, noted that women appear to be less accepting of living with obesity, making them more proactive in weight management.

Other factors also influenced obesity risks, particularly among women. Poor health literacy and symptoms of depression were strongly linked to obesity in females, but these factors didn’t show a similar effect in men. The study’s authors emphasized that raising awareness and improving health education could be key to tackling obesity across all demographics.

The NHS typically classifies a body mass index (BMI) above 30 as obese, while a BMI of 25-30 falls within the overweight category. However, BMI has faced criticism for being an overly simplistic measure, as it does not account for muscle mass or body composition.

The study concludes that marriage and aging are undeniable contributors to weight gain in adulthood, and tackling obesity will require long-term health promotion efforts. Researchers suggest that better education on nutrition and exercise, alongside mental health support, could help combat the rising trend of obesity worldwide.

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