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MALAGA, Spain – A new study set to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) reveals a striking link between marital status and obesity, particularly among men. Researchers found that married men are three times more likely to be obese compared to their unmarried counterparts.
The study, conducted by Dr. Alicja Cicha-Mikołajczyk and her team from the National Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw, Poland, analyzed data from 2,405 individuals, examining the relationship between body weight, health literacy, and various sociodemographic factors.
The findings indicate that marriage significantly increases the risk of obesity in men, with a 3.2-fold increase compared to bachelors. Additionally, married men were 62% more likely to be overweight. While marriage also increased the risk of being overweight in women by 39%, no significant link was found between marriage and obesity in women.
“The lack of an association for women could be explained by cultural differences in attitudes towards obesity in men and women,” the researchers suggested.
The study also highlighted the impact of age on weight, with each additional year increasing the risk of both overweight and obesity in both sexes. Specifically, each year increased the risk of overweight by 3% in men and 4% in women, and the risk of obesity by 4% in men and 6% in women.
Other key findings included:
- Women living in smaller communities (under 8,000 people) had a higher risk of overweight and obesity.
- In women, inadequate health literacy increased the risk of obesity by 43%, and depression doubled the risk.
- Cardiovascular disease prevalence increased with body weight, affecting 28% of obese participants.
The researchers used data from the WOBASZ II Survey, a large-scale health examination survey in Poland, to conduct their analysis. They analyzed factors such as health literacy, depression, and social support using standardized tests.
“Age and marital status have an undeniable impact on living with overweight or obesity in adulthood regardless of sex,” the authors concluded. “It appears from our results that the dissemination of health knowledge and health promotion across the lifespan could reduce the worrying phenomenon of increasing levels of obesity.”
The study emphasizes the need for targeted health interventions, considering factors like marital status, age, and community size, to combat the rising prevalence of obesity.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided by the European Congress on Obesity. The findings presented are from a study scheduled for presentation at ECO 2025 and have not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal. Further research is needed to confirm these results and understand the underlying mechanisms. Correlation does not equal causation. The results of this study should not be used as a replacement for advice from a medical professional.
