Yakult
MARRIED WEIGHT
It's official, marriage is bad for your waistline - with more than one in five new brides piling on almost a stone and a half in her first year as a wife.
Researchers found that 22 per cent of newlyweds put on an average of 21lbs - almost a stone and a half - within 12 months of saying 'I do'.
And while more than half say they no longer worried about their appearance and weight after their big day, one in five overindulged on their honeymoon.
Another 42 per cent admitted they simply got too relaxed with their new husband, while 22 per cent even said they no longer felt they needed to impress their loved-one now the ring was on their finger.
But the weight gain means wedding bliss hasn't lasted long for some, as 21 per cent of newlyweds have ended up rowing with their partner over the extra pounds.
A spokesman for Yakult, which carried out the research, said: ''For months, losing weight and getting their body into perfect shape for their wedding is the most important thing for most brides-to-be.
''Then suddenly, post wedding, we forget about keeping our waistline in shape and sometimes seem to make up for lost time - especially on all inclusive honeymoons.
''But it also becomes difficult for some to take as much care of their appearance when they relax into their new routine, and forget the little things they used to do to make sure they were always looking their best for their partner.
''Some people face that post-wedding anti-climax with comfort eating and staying in rather than having healthy meals and gym visits, and find their previous hard work all goes to waste.
''Even though you're married now, it's still important to keep putting in the effort.''
The study of 3,000 married women revealed that more than a third found it difficult to eat healthily during the first year of their marriage because they no longer had the wedding day or honeymoon to motivate them.
A quarter even admitted they were so upset that their big day was over, they found themselves turning to comfort eating to cheer them up.
Another 31 per cent reached for the junk food because they didn't know what else to do without the distraction of planning the wedding.
Almost a third of newlyweds also did less exercise during the first few months of married life than they used to before they walked down the aisle.
But the study found that despite still being in the honeymoon stage, 19 per cent of husbands commented on their new wife's weight gain, with more than half (53%) saying this spurred them on to do something about it.
Thirty per cent have even gone on a diet with their other half so they can encourage each other, while another 30 per cent have started exercising together.
More than one in five even thinks they have their weight gain means they are now doing more as a couple as they help each other to get back to their pre-wedding size.
A spokesman for Yakult added: ''While they say love is blind, and in the honeymoon period your partner may turn a blind eye to a few excess pounds, excess weight around the midriff can put pressure on the stomach, and a series of problems leading to heartburn - not heartbreak.
''Marriage is a partnership and therefore doing things together, encouraging each other to beat the bulge is a great motivator.
''Create some seductive, but healthy dishes, and make your partner your gym buddy so that the vows you have taken are more in health than in sickness.''
