Your spouse and your diet

When it comes to weight-loss, your spouse or partner can be your best friend, or your worst enemy, new Canadian research shows.

If you’ve ever tucked into a small green salad while your guy chows down on a slice of double-cheese-and-pepperoni pizza you probably knew that already. But this Ryerson University study looks at how significant others can help or hinder dieting efforts, and how this response is a reflection of the general dynamics of the relationship. Simply put, people who described their overall relationship as being supportive also reported that their partner was helpful in their goal of shedding pounds.

The interesting part of the study is that it also looked at the point of view of the partner who wasn’t trying to lose weight, and found that there wasn’t always a consensus over what behaviours were supportive and what was more negative. For example, when it came to eating “forbidden foods” in front of a calorie-counting partner, the one trying to lose weight said it had a “negative” impact while their partner didn’t see it that way.

While the researchers say they hope the study will help to promote dietary change as a shared activity, I think it has even broader implications, from trying to get fit to quitting smoking.

In your experience, has your man been a help or a hindrance when it’s come to lifestyle changes, minor or major? Feel free to brag or gripe about yours here.