Debate: Would you dump your partner if he/she got fat?

That’s the question Askmen.com asked more than 7,600 Canadian men in their annual Great Male Survey, reports the Vancouver Sun (link found via the Globe and Mail). The answer: Half of them said yes.

Askmen.com’s editor-in-chief, James Bassil told the Sun that the actual dumping weight wasn’t specified in the survey, but that this percentage remains fairly consistent from year to year. He also says this doesn’t mean men are superficial, as increased weight might mean a woman is putting less effort into the relationship.

Sure guys, I see your point. When you’re in an intimate relationship, you share your body with another person and you have to take their feelings about your body into consideration in order for the relationship to continue.

But here’s the thing: Women gain weight for a whole slew of reasons, some of which are extremely difficult to control. Take having a baby, for instance. Women of "normal" weight should gain 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. According to the Mayo Clinic, it may take six months or longer to return to pre-pregnancy weight and many women may find that their weight may be distributed differently from the way it was before.

Then there’s menopause. Again from the Mayo Clinic:
"…the most profound weight gain in a woman’s life tends to happen during the years leading up to menopause (perimenopause)."

The Clinic also cites hormonal changes genetic factors as contributing to weight-gain after menopause.

Bottom line? You can’t expect your partner’s body to stay exactly the same throughout your relationship. Accepting physical changes in the one you love is part of making a long-term partnership work. But how much should you expect your partner to make a reasonable effort to keep his/her weight down? Do you think partners have a responsibility to maintain a physically attractive appearance for each other?

Related:

‘ 8 reasons why you’re gaining weight
‘ 6 things that make men gain weight
‘ Is your partner making you gain weight?