5.2% of married men surveyed would gain about 2.5% weight. No clear correlation was found for women in the same situation.
Experts noted that the increase in BMI came about because men tended to eat more and exercise less as their marriages lasted, and were more successful. The standards for choosing a partner, the goals of marriage, the customs of marriage ceremonies, and the allocation of household duties after marriage differ considerably from those accepted in Western societies. However, the effect of marriage on BMI may vary among Chinese populations and Westernization.