The Association between Marital Transitions, Body Mass Index, and Weight: A Review of the Literature

Objective. To examine the association between different marital transitions and changes in body mass index (BMI) and body weight. Methods. A systematic literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles published between January 1990 and December 2011. Longitudinal studies were included if t...

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Main Authors: Lauren Dinour, May May Leung, Gina Tripicchio, Sahar Khan, Ming-Chin Yeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Journal of Obesity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/294974
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author Lauren Dinour
May May Leung
Gina Tripicchio
Sahar Khan
Ming-Chin Yeh
author_facet Lauren Dinour
May May Leung
Gina Tripicchio
Sahar Khan
Ming-Chin Yeh
author_sort Lauren Dinour
collection DOAJ
description Objective. To examine the association between different marital transitions and changes in body mass index (BMI) and body weight. Methods. A systematic literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles published between January 1990 and December 2011. Longitudinal studies were included if they compared dependent variables, such as BMI or weight, before and after a change in marital status. Results. Twenty articles were included: 4 articles described only transitions into marriage and/or cohabitation, 2 articles described only transitions out of marriage and/or cohabitation, and 14 articles described both. Overall, transitions into marriage were associated with weight gain, whereas transitions out of marriage were associated with weight loss. No major differences were observed between genders or across specific marital transition states. Conclusions. Additional research is warranted to better understand this phenomenon and the impact of marital transitions on obesity and obesity-related behaviors. This paper highlights potential opportunities to incorporate programs, practices, and policies that aim to promote and support healthy weights and lifestyles upon entering or leaving a marriage or cohabiting relationship.
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spelling doaj-art-1f1ce0013aeb4eb6989adf96ac8dd0992025-08-20T02:04:44ZengWileyJournal of Obesity2090-07082090-07162012-01-01201210.1155/2012/294974294974The Association between Marital Transitions, Body Mass Index, and Weight: A Review of the LiteratureLauren Dinour0May May Leung1Gina Tripicchio2Sahar Khan3Ming-Chin Yeh4Department of Public Health, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USACity University of New York School of Public Health at Hunter College, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035, USACity University of New York School of Public Health at Hunter College, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035, USACity University of New York School of Public Health at Hunter College, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035, USACity University of New York School of Public Health at Hunter College, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035, USAObjective. To examine the association between different marital transitions and changes in body mass index (BMI) and body weight. Methods. A systematic literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles published between January 1990 and December 2011. Longitudinal studies were included if they compared dependent variables, such as BMI or weight, before and after a change in marital status. Results. Twenty articles were included: 4 articles described only transitions into marriage and/or cohabitation, 2 articles described only transitions out of marriage and/or cohabitation, and 14 articles described both. Overall, transitions into marriage were associated with weight gain, whereas transitions out of marriage were associated with weight loss. No major differences were observed between genders or across specific marital transition states. Conclusions. Additional research is warranted to better understand this phenomenon and the impact of marital transitions on obesity and obesity-related behaviors. This paper highlights potential opportunities to incorporate programs, practices, and policies that aim to promote and support healthy weights and lifestyles upon entering or leaving a marriage or cohabiting relationship.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/294974
spellingShingle Lauren Dinour
May May Leung
Gina Tripicchio
Sahar Khan
Ming-Chin Yeh
The Association between Marital Transitions, Body Mass Index, and Weight: A Review of the Literature
Journal of Obesity
title The Association between Marital Transitions, Body Mass Index, and Weight: A Review of the Literature
title_full The Association between Marital Transitions, Body Mass Index, and Weight: A Review of the Literature
title_fullStr The Association between Marital Transitions, Body Mass Index, and Weight: A Review of the Literature
title_full_unstemmed The Association between Marital Transitions, Body Mass Index, and Weight: A Review of the Literature
title_short The Association between Marital Transitions, Body Mass Index, and Weight: A Review of the Literature
title_sort association between marital transitions body mass index and weight a review of the literature
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/294974
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