Newlyweds are in danger of obesity

Why? We tend to take on the "bad" eating patterns of our partners. One of the most common goals for the bride and groom before the wedding is getting in shape. But once the wedding bells stop ringing, the eating begins. In fact, according to a study by Cornell University's Jeffery Sobal, published in Social Science and Medicine, newlyweds gain more weight than singles or people who are widowed or divorced. Another study in Obesity Research reported an average weight gain of 6 to 8 pounds over a two-year period after getting married.

One of the criteria often used to pick your spouse is how he/she eats. "If you're a vegetarian, or a gourmet diner, you are more likely to feel comfortable with someone who shares your individual eating traits. Think about it — you're going to be eating with this person the rest of your life," says Sobal, inform seattletimes.nwsource.com

According to a report in yahoo.com the obesity rate in West Virginia was 5 percentage points higher than the national average, according to a four-year state study ending in 2001.

Some 24 percent of West Virginians were classified as being obese in the study, compared to 19 percent in the rest of the country. The state's rate was 17 percent between 1990 and 1994.

Residents and experts give various reasons for why obesity has increased, including the rise of fast food, supersized meal portions and a drop in physical activity due to technology improvements, television and video games.

"Our biology is geared up to eat when food's available and rest," said Dr. James Hill, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado in Denver. "We've created an environment where there's always food available and you never have to be physically active."