Tying the Knot Before Earning a Degree Increases Risk for Obesity

Getting married after earning a college degree has its many benefits. But do you know that saying “I do” after finishing college is good for your body?

In a study conducted by researchers from the Michigan University, results showed that people who marry before graduating from college are 65% more likely to become fat.

Professor Richard Miech and his team of researchers measured and compared the body mass index (BMI) of each of the 14,000 participants before and after they graduated. They took into consideration the timing of their marriages.

Based on their findings which was published in Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Miech revealed:

“People who get married before they earn a degree are about 65 per cent more likely to later become obese than people who get married after college.”

Overweight couple
PHOTO CREDIT: Newsone

While a college degree has long been shown to be associated with lower levels of obesity, the results of this study indicate the health benefits of college do not accrue to people who get married before graduating,” he added.

Weight Gain is Associated with Married Life

According to Miech, people tend to gain weight during the initial transition to married life as couples tend to eat more and exercise less.

Couples who earned their college degrees before tying the knot earn more money. This gives them the opportunity to invest money on their health. They have the financial capacity to buy healthier food, get a gym subscription and live a healthier lifestyle.

Moreover, Miech pointed out that college graduates possess problem solving skills that allow them to overcome hindrances preventing them for eating healthy and exercising as they cope with married life.

Meanwhile, the research also suggested that individuals who get a college degree after saying “I do” have developed diet habits and exercise regimens that are more difficult to change later in life.

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