Eating unhealthily after marriage could be attributed to many things other than a lack of desire to ‘impress men’. For example cooking for two and splitting portions equally, or even other lifestyle factors such changes in wealth (two incomes, more disposable income possibly to spend on food). The fact is that this phenomenon, if true, does not support the theory that women ‘let themselves go’ that we think, “right that’s it. I’ve snagged a man, lets get fat – wooo!” In fact I’m sure many women are not accepting of their extra 4lbs and that’s why there is such a huge diet industry for women, is the telegraph trying to tell us that only single women go to weight watchers?

Don’t get me started on the expectations for women’s size that is also implied here. The idea that if I have put on weight I have ‘let myself go’ ie. am no longer myself? am defective in some way? tw@ts.

Obviously, that sort of article is *annoying* and advances an agenda in which women are expected to hate themselves for not living up to some ridiculous Daily Telegraph standard.

But what’s the substantial difference between eating more unhealthily and stopping exercise and “letting yourself go” or “going to seed”. What do these terms mean? Are they defined somewhere? I thought I knew what “letting yourself go” meant, and it was something like taking less care of food and body.

Obviously, that applies to both sexes equally. Don’t people in comfortable relationships make less effort in countless ways? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I was tempted to suggest that one reason why this focuses on women is it (ridiculously) brings having children into the equation. That massive physical upheval is very likely to leave people heavier afterwards. But then, the slobbishness of marriage strikes me as actually being a disportionately male phenomenon, so I’m surprised it doesn’t balance out.