Being married triples the risk of obesity in men, study suggests
Being married triples the risk of obesity in men, research suggests.
Experts found the risks of being overweight increase for both sexes when married, but appear to be particularly acute for men.
The research will be presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Spain in May and was carried out on couples in Poland.
Researchers found both men and women tend to be heavier when married, with marriage increasing the risk of being overweight by 62% in men and 39% in women, compared to those who are unmarried.
However, married men were also 3.2 times more likely to be obese than unmarried men, while no such link was found for married women when compared to unmarried women.
The lack of such a finding in women may be due to cultural differences in attitudes towards obesity in men and women, the researchers suggested.
The study also found that getting older increases the risk of being overweight or obese for both sexes.
Dr Alicja Cicha-Mikolajczyk, from the National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland, led the study and suggested reasons for why no link with obesity was found for women.
She said: 'At an early stage of analysis, we consider different hypothesis that married women are less likely to be obese than married man.
'One of them is a cultural difference in attitude towards obesity. The attitude of society towards women living with obesity is different compared to men – they are more often stigmatised.
'We assume that women accept life with overweight, but they cannot accept living with obesity and they are more likely than men to take various actions to lose weight (eg: increased physical activity, and even returning to smoking tobacco).'
For the study, data was taken for 2,405 people from the Multi-centre National Population Health Examination Survey.
These people were typically aged 50 and 35.3% had normal weight, 38.3% were overweight and 26.4% were obese.
People were asked questions regarding their knowledge about health, any depression and social support (such as frequency of contact with family, friends and relatives).
Some 55% of the group had adequate health literacy and at least moderate social support (50%), while 15% reported depression.
Each year of increased age increased the risk of being overweight by 3% in men and 4% in women, and the risk of obesity by 4% in men and 6% in women.
In women, having inadequate health literacy increased the risk of obesity by 43%, while reporting at least borderline depression doubled the risk of obesity. This was not found in men.
The team concluded: 'Age and marital status have undeniable impact on living with overweight or obesity in adulthood regardless of sex.
'In turn, inadequate health literacy and having at least borderline depression were associated with obesity in women.
'It appears from our results that the dissemination of health knowledge and health promotion across the lifespan could reduce the worrying phenomenon of increasing levels of obesity.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Associated Press
Ensysce Biosciences Awarded $5.3 Million in Continued NIDA Support to Advance Breakthrough Opioid Overdose Protection
~ PF614-MPAR Moving to Next Stage of Development, Finalizing Drug Formulation ~ ~ Funds Accelerate Path Towards Commercialization ~ SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Ensysce Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENSC) ('Ensysce' or the 'Company'), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing innovative solutions for severe pain relief while reducing the potential for opioid abuse and overdose, today announced it was awarded the second $5.3 million installment of a $15 million, three-year grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)1. This continued support will accelerate the clinical and non-clinical development of PF614-MPAR, a next-generation opioid designed to offer powerful pain relief while dramatically reducing the risk of overdose. PF614-MPAR, which has earned the FDA's prestigious Breakthrough Therapy designation, is uniquely engineered using Ensysce's proprietary TAAP™ (Trypsin-Activated Abuse Protection) and MPAR® (Multi-Pill Abuse Resistance) technologies. These platforms enable PF614-MPAR to maintain therapeutic efficacy while offering built-in overdose protection - even when doses exceed prescribed amounts, whether accidentally or intentionally. The first year of NIDA funding, together with outside capital raised, enabled a series of promising clinical studies that validated PF614-MPAR's ability to prevent overdose. This next phase of funding which began on June 1, 2025, will focus on optimizing the final drug formulation, undertaking further clinical evaluation while preparing to move to commercialization. Ensysce plans to engage with the FDA in the coming months to align on full development plans based on the robust data generated to date. Dr. Lynn Kirkpatrick, CEO of Ensysce, commented, 'Our initial clinical results confirm what we set out to achieve - a safer opioid that can offer what we believe is real protection in overdose scenarios. PF614-MPAR is the only opioid product to receive FDA Breakthrough Therapy status, a testament to its potential impact. NIDA's continued support is a powerful endorsement of our mission to deliver innovative, life-saving solutions for pain management. With these additional funds, we're accelerating toward commercialization and look forward to working closely with the FDA on our next steps.' 1The research is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number UO1DA059791. About Ensysce Biosciences Ensysce Biosciences is a clinical stage company with a goal of disrupting the analgesic landscape by introducing a new class of highly novel opioids for the treatment of severe pain. Leveraging its Trypsin-Activated Abuse Protection (TAAPTM) and Multi-Pill Abuse Resistance (MPAR®) platforms, the Company is developing unique, tamper-proof treatment options for pain that minimize the risk of both drug abuse and overdose. Ensysce's products are anticipated to provide safer options to treat patients suffering from severe pain and assist in preventing deaths caused by medication abuse. For more information, please visit Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical may be deemed to be forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Without limiting the foregoing, the use of words such as 'may,' 'intends,' 'can,' 'might,' 'will,' 'expect,' 'plan,' 'possible,' 'believe' and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The product candidates discussed are in clinic and not approved and there can be no assurance that the clinical programs will be successful in demonstrating safety and/or efficacy, that Ensysce will not encounter problems or delays in clinical development, or that any product candidate will ever receive regulatory approval or be successfully commercialized. All forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions by Ensysce's management that, although Ensysce believes to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that Ensysce expected. In addition, Ensysce's business is subject to additional risks and uncertainties, including among others, the initiation and conduct of preclinical studies and clinical trials; the timing and availability of data from preclinical studies and clinical trials; expectations for regulatory submissions and approvals; potential safety concerns related to, or efficacy of, Ensysce's product candidates; the availability or commercial potential of product candidates; the ability of Ensysce to fund its continued operations, including its planned clinical trials; the dilutive effect of stock issuances from our fundraising; and Ensysce's and its partners' ability to perform under their license, collaboration and manufacturing arrangements. These statements are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties that are described in Ensysce's most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, which are available, free of charge, at the SEC's website at Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. Ensysce undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law. Ensysce Biosciences Company Contact: Lynn Kirkpatrick, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer (858) 263-4196 Ensysce Biosciences Investor Relations Contact: Shannon Devine MZ North America Main: 203-741-8811 [email protected] SOURCE: Ensysce Biosciences press release
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
6 surprising health benefits of drinking coffee
We're often warned of the dangers of caffeine but new research has turned up some reassuring news for women who love their coffee. A study, which tracked nearly 50,000 females across 32 years, found that those who drank coffee in midlife were more likely to stay sharp, mentally well and physically strong into their 70s. However, it's bad news for tea lovers. The same link with healthy ageing wasn't seen for all hot beverages. "The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee – not tea or decaf – may uniquely support ageing trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function," said Dr Sara Mahdavi, a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard TH Chan School of Health, who led the research. In the study, healthy ageing was defined as living to 70 or older and being free from 11 major chronic diseases – including cancer and type 2 diabetes – as well as having good physical function and mental health, no cognitive impairment or memory complaints. In 2016, 32 years after the study began, 3,706 of the participants were considered healthy agers. In midlife, these women consumed an average of 315 mg of caffeine per day, which is roughly equivalent to three small cups of coffee. Each extra cup of coffee they drank per day was linked to a 2% to 5% higher chance of doing well later in life, up to a limit of five small cups per day. In the UK, the Food Standards Agency says up to 400mg of caffeine per day, the equivalent of four small cups of coffee, are unlikely to cause adverse effects in adults. However Dr Mahdavi noted that coffee alone wasn't enough to help you age well. "Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviours such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and avoiding smoking," she said. "The benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation." While coffee isn't a magical cure-all, a range of studies have shown there are certain health and wellbeing benefits that can be gleaned from a steaming cup of Joe. 1. It could help you live longer A 2017 study suggested that drinking three cups of coffee a day could add years to our lives. After adjusting for lifestyle factors, such as smoking and diet, the scientists found that those who drank the most coffee had a lower risk of death in comparison to those who spent their lives coffee-free. However, scientists say more research is needed to find out which of the compounds in coffee may potentially be benefitting health. Research, from 2019, suggested that a diet rich in coffee, fruit and vegetables could help protect women against breast cancer. The study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Glasgow, found that a diet full of phenolic acids may provide a protective effect on the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Coffee may also help protect the liver from cancer, with one research paper finding that people who drink more coffee are less likely to develop hepatocellular cancer (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer. People who drank two cups a day had a 35% reduced risk, but for those who drank five cups, the risk was halved. 3. It could reduce your risk of heart disease According to research published earlier this year, morning coffee drinkers could not only be 31% less likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those who don't drink it at all, they are also 16% less likely to die earlier of any cause. The lead author of the study, Dr Lu Qi of Tulane University, noted: "A possible explanation [for why morning coffee drinkers see a reduced risk in cardiovascular disease] is that consuming coffee in the afternoon or evening may disrupt circadian rhythms and levels of hormones such as melatonin. This, in turn, leads to changes in cardiovascular risk factors such as inflammation and blood pressure." He added: "Further studies are needed to validate our findings in other populations, and we need clinical trials to test the potential impact of changing the time of day when people drink coffee." 4. It may protect your liver One study found that people who drink coffee daily have a lower risk of developing and dying from liver disease. The study analysed data from nearly 495,000 people in the UK over a median of 10 years. They tracked which people developed chronic liver disease and related liver conditions. Compared to non-coffee drinkers, people who drink coffee had a 21% reduced risk of chronic liver disease and a 20% reduced risk of chronic or fatty liver disease. They were also much less likely to die from chronic liver disease if they did contract it. A 2023 study suggested that drinking a cup of coffee each day may lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers looked at the health data of more than 150,000 people, including how much coffee they drank and the incidences of diabetes. They found that drinking one extra cup a day was associated with a 4% to 6% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, for people drinking between 0 and six cups daily. However, it's not recommended that people consume more than 400mg of coffee (or 200mg if pregnant). It's also worth noting that the study, which was led by professors at Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, was funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC). 6. It could aid weight loss Research from 2019 suggested coffee might be the key to aiding weight loss. University of Nottingham researchers found coffee might help the body to burn calories. It does this through stimulating certain fat cells – known as brown adipose tissue – into releasing their energy. The study used thermal imaging to monitor participants' brown fat reserves, with results revealing that drinking coffee had a positive effect on the cells' ability to generate heat, burning energy in the process. A separate study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, saw researchers adding caffeine into exercisers' routine before they worked out. Those in the caffeine group rated their workouts as easier and more enjoyable than those who did not. Additionally, the caffeinated group ate, on average, 72 fewer calories that same day. While there are plenty of perceived benefits of coffee, it's also important to stress it isn't a magic bullet and should be enjoyed in moderation. According to the European Food Safety Authority's review of caffeine safety, a safe coffee intake can be defined as three to five cups per day. It is also important to keep in mind the limitations of some of the research into coffee's potential health benefits. Many of the studies are observational and don't take into account other lifestyle factors, which may play a part on the results. Read more about nutrition: 5 health benefits of strawberries as UK sees giant fruit you 'cannot fit in your mouth' (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) 5 ways to do the Mediterranean diet for less (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) 6 ridiculously easy ultra-processed food swaps to make on your next big shop (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
3 injured in multi-vehicle crash in Beach Park, Illinois
Three people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash Tuesday morning in Chicago's far northern suburbs. Lake County Sheriff's police said, around 8 a.m., a GMC Acadia was headed north on Sheridan Road when it struck the stop arm of a school bus which was stopped near Mawman Avenue in Beach Park, Illinois. The GMC kept heading north, and sideswiped a Ford Focus, pushing it into a utility pole. The GMC then hit a Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck and a Ford Flex SUV in the oncoming lanes of Sheridan Road. Police said it's possible the driver of the GMC, a 74-year-old man from Zion, Illinois, suffered a medical emergency before the crash. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Neither the driver nor the two children on the school bus were injured. The driver of the Ford Focus and the driver of the Chevrolet Colorado were taken to the hospital in serious condition, but police said their injuries were not life-threatening. The driver of the Ford Flex was not injured. The cause of the crash was under investigation Tuesday afternoon.
