Moving in with the boyfriend, bad for girls health!

Apr 6 2006

According to researchers in the UK when women move in with a boyfriend they gain weight.

University of Newcastle researchers say women also eat more unhealthy foods when they move in with a male partner.

Lead author Amelia Lake says men's diet on the other hand, become healthier when they start cohabiting with a female partner and her influence has a long-term positive impact.

They also lose weight during new relationships and the reason for the change in dietary habits, say experts, is that both partners try to please each other during the 'honeymoon period' at the start of a cohabiting relationship, by adjusting their routine to suit their partner and eating food that he or she likes.

However, because the majority of female partners still assume the traditional role of food shopper and cook, women have the strongest long-term influence over the couple's diet and lifestyle.

The report, by Newcastle University's Human Nutrition Research Centre, reviewed the findings of a variety of research projects from the UK, North America and Australia which looked at the eating and lifestyle habits of cohabiting heterosexual couples, including married couples.

Dr Lake, a research fellow and a registered dietitian, says the findings highlight major health issues which couples needed to address as a team early on in the relationship.

The findings support work by Lake which found more men than women found their partner to be a positive influence on their diet, in terms of encouraging them to eat more fruit and vegetables, eating regular meals and taking control of their food shopping and preparation.

Dr Lake says the blame for an unhealthy lifestyle or diet cannot be blamed just on one's partner, as there are many other things that affect what you eat and do.

However, research does show that a partner's influence on lifestyle is considerable and people who are trying to live healthier lives should take this factor into consideration.

The report is published in the health professional publication Complete Nutrition.