Obesity may explain a large percentage of the problems in marriage rate dips

This photo has been making the rounds:

Basically, the caption being something like “there’s no one fat in this 1970s beach photo… fast food industry and obesity.”

Can’t say they’re wrong.

Given the posts I’ve written on:

Even in this specific photo a large portion of the men look like they actively play sports or work out because they have a decent amount of muscle. You don’t have to have bodybuilder levels of muscle to be more attractive either.

It’s quite obvious that a large part of the declining attractiveness is due to the fact that both men and women are getting out of control obese. Declining attactiveness means that less people are likely to go on dates (because they wouldn’t meet the attractiveness criteria of the opposite sex) and hence less people are likely to get married.

Clearly, there’s likely some other factors involved such as the feminization of men and masculinization of women and other things such as these, but this really does drive home the point that if you’re muscular and fit you have a huge leg up. Especially in the Church for men where caring about physical appearance is even less important about sometimes than in the secular world (although it shouldn’t be).

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18 Responses to Obesity may explain a large percentage of the problems in marriage rate dips

  1. My wife laughed at an Instagram video and wanted me to see it. A woman in the video was relaxing, then got up as some upbeat music came on. She said, “Oh shoot – I forgot that I was married to a hot guy. I need to go work out.” My 58 yr. old wife said that was exactly what she felt like – though she said it with humor and warmth. I’m by no means “hot,” but I have always been very fit, and she can see that it put positive pressure on her to keep up. And, to her great credit, she has. I think it has had a positive impact on my daughters and sons-in-law, who all exercise, eat well, and look great. During one of my cancer treatments, one son-in-law remarked that I was in better shape than him even while I was going through chemo.

    “You don’t have to have bodybuilder levels of muscle to be more attractive either.”

    Exactly! Just lift for 6-12 months to get the “newbie” gains and then maintain from there.

  2. I think getting obese also worsens sex lives for many, and that leads to relationship issues and possibly divorce.

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  4. johnson j says:

    I think this is just feminists trying to blame the Oreo corporation or McDonalds. No, its feminism that is to blame.

  5. locustsplease says:

    I’m in the healthy obese camp. Probably close to %20bf 270lbs. I run or lift every day I don’t do manual labor. I want to b 230. Having muscle helps there are so many men that think they will get what they want just doing nothing. I can even notice when I cut a few pounds girls start smiling at me more everywhere I go.

    And guys my age sure there are some studs but I was in the top %1 of physical presence in my 20s. For the most part fat women drive me nuts. They are lazy horrible cooks and have endless excuses. I know your eating little Debbie’s every day girl. All of them eat chicken wings and every food has to b flavored Buffalo bacon chicken ranch or whatever I can’t even stand to look at it.

    If you want a hot fit 50yo wife it certainly helps to b in great shape yourself. Many older women with great figures lift at the gym I go to. Rarely can a woman look like that genetics alone without lifting – running- motivation. Occasionally I see a husband and they are fit dudes. However this alone won’t get a girl to stay with you she has to b able to b loyal and many can’t. You can’t expect her to do things you won’t. I was maybe the fittest of my adult life when my wife left me you can’t fix stupid.

  6. cameron232 says:

    One very nice Christian girl showed interest in me in college when I was already taken (dating). She was normal, say 120 pounds. She’s now a morbidly obese homeschooling mom of 2 kids. She’s been obese for quite a few years. Her husband is normal (not overweight).

    Obviously they can and do balloon up on you.

  7. There are no guarantees, but if they don’t exercise and eat fairly well then that’s a warning sign. Some young girls can look terrific without exercise, but it will catch up to them if they don’t.

  8. cameron232 says:

    This was a 19 year old girl. Absent gluttony most people don’t get obese even if they don’t do dedicated exercise e.g. lifting or cardio. Eating healthy food and e.g. walking daily does wonders. Women don’t need to have “hardbodies” they should strive to be a healthy weight.

    My mom weighed 260 and one day decided she didn’t want diabetes. She started eating healthy (didn’t exercise) and she’s now been in the 130s for years.

  9. Good for her! A friend of ours had gained weight due to eating junk and never exercising and was warned about getting diabetes. She lost some weight, then gained it all back and more and ended up diabetic. Her husband eventually left her (various issues) and now she has finally slimmed down.

  10. Bardelys the Magnificent says:

    I’ve seen this in a couple I know. Married 20 years then divorced. Both are overweight and use the other one as an excuse to stay fat. Both have complained loudly about their sex life. Marriage is hard work; some of that work is controlling the appetite and getting some exercise.

  11. I saw a couple like that once in an airport. Both were very fat. It was an early morning flight and they both were having Coke for breakfast. I sensed that they may have made a pact with one another that they’d both let themselves go. Sad.

  12. cameron232 says:

    I see fat couples frequently and have seen some who seem to be happy.

    I see thin/fit guys with fat women all the time. I rarely see the opposite. Men have to very much lower their standards these days.

  13. elspeth says:

    I’ve seen fit young women with soft, flabby guys. I just assumed it was the woman making the shift to “need to find a husband mode”, as they are usually late 20s/early 30s couples. Not very young couples.

  14. cameron232 says:

    Among young blue collar men who are fit/not overweight a solid majority seem to have fat wives. I see it all the time. Women feel no obligation to take care of themselves for hubby when hubby is low status and/or beta.

  15. Rock Kitaro says:

    I literally wrote an essay a couple years ago, that I felt somewhat ashamed of. The premise was, “If beauty motivates us, does ugly discourage us?” I was inspired to write this when I saw an old crush who I used to be heads over hills for. It’s been a good year since I’ve seen her and was disappointed to see how much she had let herself go. I was planning on hitting the gym afterwards, but after seeing her, I was so completely deflated and demotivated. I kept asking myself, “What’s the point?”

    lol, nah. I don’t work out to make women happy. But I confess, I mean…you know what I mean.

  16. @ Rock

    I literally wrote an essay a couple years ago, that I felt somewhat ashamed of. The premise was, “If beauty motivates us, does ugly discourage us?” I was inspired to write this when I saw an old crush who I used to be heads over hills for. It’s been a good year since I’ve seen her and was disappointed to see how much she had let herself go. I was planning on hitting the gym afterwards, but after seeing her, I was so completely deflated and demotivated. I kept asking myself, “What’s the point?”

    lol, nah. I don’t work out to make women happy. But I confess, I mean…you know what I mean.

    It’s definitely true that some things are more motivating than others. But things like motivation is pretty fickle while discipline is what is effective.

    From my experience, women without direction tend to be easily deceived. Whether that’s single “independent” women or even women in relationships/marriage where the husband doesn’t lead (due to whatever reasons himself) or she is rebelling against the leadership. Obesity really is only a symptom.

  17. Oscar says:

    If you want to avoid the grenade bride (after the wedding she pulls the pin and blows up), you absolutely MUST recon the mother (copious profanity warning).

    Do NOT marry an obese woman’s daughter.

  18. Pingback: Cheap sex leads to decreasing marriage rates or not? | Christianity and masculinity

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