Is a happy marriage bad for your health?

By Cassie Shortsleeve

Marital bliss could break the scale. Happy newlyweds packed on more kilos in the first 4 years of marriage than their less satisfied counterparts, according to new research from Southern Methodist University.

The reason: the less happy you are after walking down the aisle, the more likely you are to consider divorce—and the thought of being back on the market (and meeting a new partner) could keep you thin, says lead study author Dr Andrea L Meltzer.

Content couples, on the other hand, tend to feel comfortable and could let their weight slip, the study suggests.

Related: Is happy hour hurting your marriage?

But a happy marriage doesn’t have to mean a fat future. Trade a casual night in for a formal party every once in a while. Low-key evenings may make you feel more comfortable going off-script, while nights out may help you focus more on your weight and appearance, says Dr Lori Klos of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Finally, a healthy reason to party!

And if the thought of a spare tyre to go with your ball and chain still has you getting cold feet, here's some good news for men about to take the plunge:

Along with imparting marital bliss, your wife will . . .

1. Increase your pay
A Virginia Commonwealth University study found that married men earn 22 per cent more than their similarly experienced but single colleagues.

2. Speed up your next promotion
Married men receive higher performance ratings and faster promotions than bachelors, a 2005 study of U.S. Navy officers reported.

3. Keep you out of trouble
According to a recent U.S. Department of Justice report, male victims of violent crime are nearly four times more likely to be single than married.

4. Satisfy you in bed
In 2006, British researchers reviewed the sexual habits of men in 38 countries and found that in every country, married men have more sex.

5. Help you beat cancer
In a Norwegian study, divorced and never-married male cancer patients had 11 and 16 per cent higher mortality rates, respectively, than married men.

6. Help you live longer
A UCLA study found that people in generally excellent health were 88 per cent more likely to die over the 8-year study period if they were single.