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Mike’s biggest fear is that his girlfriend will get fat.  “You see these girls, they diet to fit in the wedding dress, and then five years later you can’t even recognize them, they’ve put on so much weight.” Mike hopes that, by not getting married, he’ll be able to make sure that his girlfriend retains the perfect body he fell in love with.

Unfortunately, what Mike doesn’t know is that, for every year his girlfriend lives with him, she’s at greater risk of packing on the pounds, regardless of whether they tie the knot.

A study done at the University of North Carolina and published in the July issue of Obesity found that cohabitation puts both parties at greater risk of piling on weight.

For example, a woman who’s lived with her partner for 5 years is 63% more likely to become obese.  For every year she lives with him, the risk goes up.

Men, on the other hand, are most likely to pack on the pounds between the first and second year of living together.  After that, their risk falls to a normal amount.

Unless they decide to get married.

There is scientific evidence to support Mike’s belief that marriage makes women fat.  But marriage also makes men fat.  People who’ve been married for two years are twice as likely to become obese as couples who are just dating.

The authors of the study suggest that the reason for this weight gain comes down to a combination of factors: the importance of eating meals together, not exercising as much, and a lack of motivation.  Looking good is something that seems to be more important when you’re single and looking to attract a member of the opposite sex.

Luckily, there’s something couples can do about it.  A University of Connecticut study showed that if one partner participates in a weight-loss program, the other partner tends to lose about 5 pounds (2.3 kilos) by default.  Couples can influence each other’s weight positively, through setting mutual goals and encouraging one another to meet them.

So perhaps Mike got it all wrong.  Maybe he should be worried about marriage less and his own weight more.  If he commits to a healthy lifestyle, including sensible meals and regular exercise, then he and his girlfriend should stay slim and healthy for years to come.