Income shifts prompt BMI changes in married couples.
Study: When one spouse's income rises, the other's BMI tends to fall, challenging the 'trophy wife' trope.
Why it matters
- Challenges the traditional 'trophy wife' concept, showing mutual adjustments in marriages.
- Highlights how economic shifts can influence physical health and attractiveness within relationships.
By the numbers
- 3,744 heterosexual, dual-earner married couples studied over 20 years.
- BMI and physical exercise frequency were key measures.
- When one spouse's relative income rose, the other's BMI fell.
The big picture
- Marriage involves continuous negotiation of status and attractiveness.
- Economic parity is matched by aesthetic parity, with both genders investing in appearance.
What they're saying
- Comments suggest more money could mean more time for exercise and better diet.
- Criticism of BMI as a measure, especially for muscular individuals.
- Personal anecdotes support the idea that financial freedom can lead to better health habits.
Caveats
- Data collected every two years, missing short-term changes.
- BMI is a limited measure of attractiveness.
- Study limited to straight dual-earner couples.
What’s next
- Further research could explore other types of relationships and more diverse samples.
- Understanding these dynamics could help in relationship counseling and health interventions.