Recently, we discussed a Swedish study that indicated that women who gained considerable success after marrying were more likely to divorce than other women. Now another Swedish study has found that people (both men and women) who lost a substantial amount of weight after weight-loss surgery are more likely to divorce or have their relationships end than those who don’t undergo surgery.
It should be noted that Sweden has large national databases that contain a good deal of information about its citizens. That information helps make these studies possible.
The study looked at people four years after having bariatric surgery. Those who were married or in relationships had a 28 percent increased chance of their relationships ending over obese people who didn’t have the surgery. Divorce rates among those who had the surgery were 76 percent higher than the general population.
Interestingly, people who were single when they had their surgery were more likely to see their love lives improve. Their chances of beginning a new relationship doubled.
The reasons behind both of these phenomena may be the same. People’s self-confidence often increases when they lose a significant amount of weight. They’re usually healthier and more active. All of this can spur them to get out more, try new things, and therefore, meet new people. For single people, this can lead to finding a partner.
For married people, however, a substantial weight loss can change the dynamic of a relationship. The other spouse may feel jealous if his or her newly-svelte spouse is garnering the attention of others. A spouse may feel left out — particularly if a partner wants to do things that he or she doesn’t. Maybe some of their prior shared activities revolved around food. Further, people who feel better about themselves may be more likely to decide to end an already unhappy or unsatisfying relationship.
The study’s authors note that people’s increased self-esteem after weight loss may give them the incentive they need “to leave an unhealthy relationship.” If you’re in that position, an experienced Florida family law attorney can provide guidance in helping you seek a settlement that will help you move forward in this new chapter of your life.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “After weight-loss surgery, singles were more likely to start a relationship and couples were more likely to split,” Melissa Healy, March 28, 2018
