Why do we put on weight when in a relationship?
Thanks for asking. The subject of today's episode is something that's happened to many of us.
See how familiar the scenario sounds.
You meet someone special, start spending a lot of time together and gradually fall in love.
You go out for romantic dinners, you order take-out and watch Netflix on the couch.
You share desserts and drinks.
You're so caught up feeling happy and comfortable with your partner that you don't worry too much about your appearance.
Then one day you step on the scales and realise that you've gained some extra pounds.
Or maybe you noticed that your clothes are feeling tighter.
Or that you feel more sluggish and tired.
Oh yeah, I've definitely been there.
At some point you just start asking yourself what happened.
Research has suggested that relationship weight gain is a real thing.
A 2013 survey by DietChef found that over 60% of us put on weight when in a comfortable relationship.
It's not just because we eat more or exercise less.
There are actually several factors that can contribute to the phenomenon.
One is hormonal. When you're in love, your body releases chemicals like oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin, which make you feel happy, relaxed and bonded with your partner.
They also lower your stress levels and suppress your appetite, but the effects aren't permanent.
As your relationship matures and becomes more stable, your hormone levels tend to normalise.
This means that you may feel less euphoric and more hungry than before.
Another factor is behavioural.
When you're in a relationship, you tend to adopt some of your partner's habits and preferences.
That can be a good thing if your partner has a healthy lifestyle.
It can also be a bad thing if they tend to eat junk food, skip breakfast or sleep in late all the time.
It can also be hard to find motivation to stay in shape when in a relationship.
That's especially true if you're happy and satisfied with your partner.
You may feel less pressure to impress them or attract other potential mates.
What are the best ways of preventing or reversing relationship weight gain?
Thankfully, relationship weight gain is neither inevitable nor irreversible.
With some awareness and effort, you can maintain a healthy weight and a healthy relationship.
It's important to communicate with your partner about your respective health goals and expectations and then support each other in achieving them.
You can also plan healthy activities and meals together and encourage each other to stay on track.
To some extent you should also be mindful of your eating habits.
Pay attention to what you eat, how much you eat and why you eat.
Avoid mindless snacking or emotional eating.
Choose nutritious foods that fill you up and give you energy.
You may want to consider changing your daily routine to incorporate physical exercise and make sure you're getting to 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep.
That said, it's important to remember that weight is not the only measure of your worth or attractiveness.
Appreciate yourself and your partner for who you are, not just what you look like.
There you have it. Now you know why we put on weight when in a relationship.
In under 3 minutes we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines.
Listen along and you will really know for sure.
