Moving in with a boyfriend causes women to eat more unhealthily and put
on weight.
But the opposite is true for men, whose long-term health benefits when
they move in with a female partner.
Dieticians at Newcastle University said both
partners try to please one another, and so change their dietary habits to
suit their other half.
It leads men to eat more light meals, such as salads, fruit and
vegetables, while women chose to make creamier, heavier dishes like curry
or rich pasta sauces, which may please their partner.
Women still have the strongest long-term influence over the couple's
diet and lifestyle, as they still have the traditional role of shopper and
cook in most households.
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 couples and married couples.
The research shows that women are more likely to put on weight and
increase their consumption of foods high in fat and sugar when they move
in with their partner.
Women also use food as a comfort when dealing with emotional stress and
have been found to gain weight when a relationship ends, while the same
finding has not been observed in men.
Many couples reported food as being central to their partnership, and
eating together in the evening was particularly important to many.
Report author and registered dietician Dr Amelia Lake said,"The
research has shown that your partner is a strong influence on lifestyle
and people who are trying to live healthier lives should take this factor
into consideration.
(Agencies)
