Women let themselves go after “I Do,” study reveals

Dec 3, 2009 18:21 GMT  ·  By
Couples gain weight in the first year of marriage, but it’s more obvious in women, study says
   Couples gain weight in the first year of marriage, but it’s more obvious in women, study says

Getting in top shape for the wedding is one of the most difficult and, because of this, admirable things a modern woman can put herself through, it has often been said. There’s dieting and plenty of working out and, most importantly, sticking by the rules no matter how hard it is. Once the big day comes and goes, things change for the worse, as also happens to the weight of the new wife, a new study cited by the Telegraph informs.

Of the 3,000 couples that took part in the survey conducted by yoghurt-maker Yakult, the vast majority had gained weight in the first year of marriage, with it being more obvious in women. On average, a new wife gains a stone and a half, meaning approximately 10 kg in the first twelve months – and it all starts during the honeymoon, the study shows. It is then that the two lovebirds forego all dietary considerations and gorge on everything, especially if we’re talking about an all-inclusive package for the honeymoon.

Speaking strictly numbers, the survey comes to show that 22 percent of newlyweds gain weight in the first year, with an average of one stone and a half of extra pounds. Half of those interviewed say they no longer worried about their appearance after their wedding day, while one in five came clean about overindulging on their honeymoon. Even more surprisingly, of these, 42 percent say the new attitude comes as a result of becoming too “relaxed” with the partner, which means dieting rules and workout times can be more lax.

'”For months, losing weight and getting their body into perfect shape for their wedding is the most important thing for most brides-to-be. Then suddenly, post wedding, we forget about keeping our waistline in shape and sometimes seem to make up for lost time – especially on all inclusive honeymoons. But it also becomes difficult for some to take as much care of their appearance when they relax into their new routine, and forget the little things they used to do to make sure they were always looking their best for their partner,” a spokesperson for Yakult says for the British publication.

While 22 percent of newlyweds may no longer feel the need to impress their partner with their stunning looks and slim figure, the partner in question doesn’t necessarily feel the same way, the findings indicate. Approximately 21 percent admitted to having gotten into a quarrel with their spouse on the topic of the extra pounds.