Living with a partner linked with BMI, differently for women and men
- Published in
- Int J Epidemiol 2020
- People studied
- 378,244
In 378,244 people, women with a BMI above about 31 were less likely to live with a partner, and so were men with a BMI below about 23.5.
- Checked against
- PubMed 31800047
- Published in
- Int J Epidemiol 2020
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Key takeaway
This UK study of 378,244 adults used genes linked with BMI, and comparisons between siblings, to test whether BMI affects social life. In women, a high BMI (above about 31) went with lower odds of living with a partner or spouse. In men, it was a low BMI (below about 23.5) that went with lower odds.
At a glance
- Type of study
- genetic (Mendelian randomisation) and sibling study in UK Biobank, a large UK health database
- People studied
- 378,244
- Compared with
- people with a BMI in the middle range
- Main result
- Women with a BMI above 31, and men with a BMI below 23.5, were less likely to live with a partner.
- Strength of evidence
- Long-term or observational studies
What this study does not show
Genetic methods point towards cause but rest on assumptions that cannot be fully checked. The people were of European ancestry in the UK, and the result runs in opposite directions for women and men. It looks at BMI over a lifetime, not at what happens after losing weight.
Results from studies in groups of people, mostly in diet and movement programmes. They cannot be promised to any one person. This information is educational and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
More on dating
- Leaner-looking faces rated more attractiveSmall or uncontrolled studies · Foo, Simmons and Rhodes, Sci Rep 2017
- Fewer new relationships, in women studentsLong-term or observational studies · van Woerden et al., PLoS One 2020
- Living with a partner linked with BMI, differently for women and menLong-term or observational studies · Howe et al., Int J Epidemiol 2020
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