HHS HealthBeat (January 23, 2008)

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From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

When you’re single and looking, it helps to be looking good. After you’re settled down, well….

Researchers found that when they compared the weight of married couples and unmarried living partners with the weight of dating people.

For instance, newlyweds gained six to nine pounds more in their first year, compared with people who were still dating.

Researcher Natalie The of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill says the study couldn’t tell what the couples were doing wrong. But she has ideas on what they could do right.

``Perhaps partners could encourage one another to adopt and adhere to healthier diets and to be more physically active.’’ (5 seconds)

The study, presented at a meeting of a scientific organization named the Obesity Society, was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: January, 22 2008