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Say what!?
By Kait Smith — Written on Oct 21, 2015
Ladies and gentlemen, consider yourself warned. If your long-term lover expresses the desire to shed a few pounds, it can only mean one thing: He's planning on leaving you.
At least that's what sociologists in Germany are claiming. Based on their study of 2,000 people ages 16 to 55, they're reporting that people in happy relationships pack on pounds because they're comfortable; there's less pressure to look and feel attractive once romantically attached.
When someone in a steady relationship starts to lose weight, it's a signal, say those sociologists. Why? Because when people are on the lookout for a new partner, they like to look "as thin and attractive as possible."
Yes, men and women in relationships have been known to let themselves go at times, but it's offensive to say that the primary motivation for losing weight is a new relationship. What about, say, wanting to be healthy? Wanting to feel confident in that sexy holiday dress? Or, heaven forbid, exercising to stave off weight-associated diseases? Also, call us old-fashioned, but what about simply wanting to look good for your partner?
Nope, it's all about getting ready for a new relationship. The warning signs include suddenly becoming gym-obsessed or getting involved in dieting or sports.
The overall takeaway from this study (and thus, the primary emphasis) should be that we tend to get a little lax in terms of our fitness when we're comfortable in a relationship. It shouldn't, however, strike fear in otherwise happy couples who have decided to get back on the healthy track.
"Honey, unless you're planning on leaving me, you better get back to those double cheeseburgers!" Yup, we should all want our partners to eventually want heart attacks.
Thanks, but no thanks, German researchers. We'll stick to dieting and exercising to be healthy, whether we're in a relationship or not.
