In a relationship, the unexpected "side effect" may be to become fat. Some people compare love to candy, which leads to the conclusion that "eating sugar every day, how can you not be fat".
There are many scientific bases for this "happy fat", and some studies have even found that the average person gains about 4.5 kilograms during love.
Experts interviewed
National second-level psychological counselor Ding Siyuan
How does being in love make people "inflated"?
Love has another trait that makes people feel more similar than they look: getting fat. Behind the swelling of happiness, scientists have discovered many details.
During love, the average "long meat" is 4.5 kg
According to a medical survey by the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity, from the beginning of love to the stability of the relationship, the average weight gain is about 4.5 kilograms.
Studies point to several significant reasons for weight gain:
Increased snack intake
Decreased amount of exercise
Reduced sleep duration
Previously, a study of 1,000 couples by a well-known British food company showed that 62% of couples began to gain weight after falling in love, gaining an average of about 1.8 kilograms a year, and women increased more than men.
Fat is "contagious" between partners
The figure between partners can also be "contagious", such as thin people and fat people together, and they may also end up getting fat.
According to a 32-year study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, obesity can be transmitted between couples, and if one partner is obese, it affects the other. The risks of "husband influencing wife" and "wife influencing husband" were 44% and 37%, respectively.
The reason for this phenomenon may be that similar lifestyle habits subtly affect weight.
The more affectionate, the easier it is to gain weight together
A study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in the United States pointed out that in a partnership, if the more satisfied and loving two people are, the easier it is to become fat together.
In the 4-year study, researchers analyzed 169 couples. It was found that partners with good relationships gained weight from each other; Most partners who have not changed much or have lost weight are mostly in a state of separation or relationship decline.
The study believes that partners gain weight together for the following reasons:
Happy couples do not need to attract new objects, self-requirements are reduced, and they will not be as strict as when they are single, such as women do not care about small belly, men gradually give birth to beer belly;
The two often eat together, and women are more susceptible to male influences, and the amount of meals increases, thereby consuming more calories, resulting in weight gain.
In addition, after entering a relationship, the brain secretes PEA (a mood hormone), a neurotransmitter that makes people ignore changes in the other half, such as gaining weight. Even if you notice that the other person is getting fat, you will see it as a cute expression.
Spring is the season of "happiness fat"
In the fattening time of love, it is easier to "fatten" in spring. Many people may find that they or those around them have a higher degree of desire for love in the spring.
From a scientific point of view, the seasonal characteristics of this love have the following factors:
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Hormonal changes
Spring is the season for animal mating, when the light is extended, everything grows, food and water are abundant, and this abundance can continue into autumn and winter, enough to ensure the smooth growth of the next generation.
Human biological instincts engraved in genes still play a role, making human hormonal changes seasonal, and some hormones have an impact on the desire for love.
Melatonin is secreted less in the spring, while serotonin is produced more in the spring, prompting a greater willingness to accept intimacy and a greater desire to be part of an interdependent relationship.
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Seasonal stimulation
A Harvard University study in the United States found that flowers can instantly boost spirits, energy and positive mood. Spring is richer in colours, sounds and smells, and can often bring new experiences.
People's inner state will be stimulated by the environment, make some new attempts, and the mentality is much more inclusive, so it is easier to accept love or share self-feelings.
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Increased opportunities to go out
After the arrival of spring, outdoor activities such as green trips and picnics increase, which will also increase the opportunities for some romantic encounters.
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Romantic associations brought by the cultural atmosphere
In most poems, songs, and literature, spring and love are always associated. These cultural messages will subtly hint that spring is a romantic season and that the chances of falling in love are higher.
How to control "happiness fat"?
Although being in love and fattening is a kind of happiness, fat also requires moderation. If you notice that you or your partner are much fatter than before falling in love, you may wish to make the following changes to bring your body back to a healthy state:
Limit food intake
When two people eat together, it is recommended to control the amount of food and do not waste food for each other. In particular, avoid situations where one party cannot finish eating and asks the other party to help "clean" the leftovers.
The meal time should not be too fast, it is recommended that the meal time is not less than 15 minutes, and it is best to control it in 20~30 minutes.
Agree to move together
One of the steps to getting fat during a relationship is to "eat more and move less." After meals, in addition to reasonably distributing the amount of housework between the two, you can also set an exercise plan for each other and supervise each other.
Change the habit of collapsing on the sofa together after meals, or always relying on each other to do housework and take takeout.
Don't eat a "big meal" every anniversary
On the road to becoming fat, eating is the behavior with the highest contribution value. Many couples have to go out and eat as long as it is an anniversary or Valentine's Day.
In fact, the sense of ritual can be more diverse, such as doing something together that you don't usually have the opportunity to do, taking a walk together, buying couple clothes together, etc. ▲
Editor of this issue: Zhang Yu