Scientists confirm that being in a relationship makes you gain weight

There are many perks to being in a relationship; whether it's the knowledge that you are loved by someone, your household bills being cheaper, or simply the fact that you no longer spend your Sunday evenings swiping through Tinder or Bumble in the misplaced hope that someone, somewhere, will also fancy you. However, relationships do come with their downsides - particularly when it comes to your health.

When you're single, it would be safe to say that you constantly try to look the best that you possibly can. Essentially, every time you step out of your house, you are stepping into a world of possibility. Who knows what is waiting out there for you? You might bump into your future "bae" in the grocery store or on the metro; so you always need to look as sharp and sexy as possible.

But, in a relationship, this pride in your appearance jumps out the window. You no longer get bi-weekly haircuts and your wardrobe - that was once updated everytime your paycheck landed in your bank account - now is awash with tracksuit bottoms and comfy clothing. Not only this, but instead of spending your free time in the gym or socialising with friends, your time and money now go on eating out and Netflix binges with a tub of ice cream.

Unsurprisingly, this comforting but unhealthy lifestyle isn't great for our bodies. According to a new survey by the University of Queensland in Australia, being in a relationship makes you put on weight.

In the study, researchers analysed decades worth of data from over 15,000 people and found that those in a happy relationship weighed much more than their single counterparts. According to the study, couples weighed an average of 5.8kg (12.7lbs) more than those who were single. On top of this, the research also discovered that those who were happily coupled-up had an average weight gain of 1.8kg per year.

"Marriage (or de-facto relationships) comes with spousal obligations such as regular family meals," the researchers said.

"While they may include more healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables and less fast food, people often consume larger portion sizes and more calories in the company of others than they do alone, resulting in increased energy intake."

The study continued to explain: "Marriage and cohabiting also carry the potential for encouraging unhealthy behaviours, as couples often perform behaviours like eating, watching TV, and drinking alcohol together".

In the study, couples were asked to answer questions regarding their lifestyle choices - such as how active they were, how much fast food they ate and how much TV they tended to watch throughout the week.

While the researchers discovered that couples tend to eat more fruit and veg and are less likely to smoke or drink to excess, the results did suggest that those who were loved up may feel like they no longer need to watch their weight.

Lead author Dr Stephanie Schoeppe told New Scientist magazine: "When couples don't need to look attractive and slim to attract a partner, they may feel more comfortable in eating more, or eating more foods high in fat and sugar."

Also, if you have kids, it gets even worse, with Schoeppe adding: "When couples have children in the household, they tend to eat their leftovers or snacks."

So there you have it - while being in a loving relationship may be good for your state of mind, it can be pretty detrimental to your waistline. Still, if you're happy and comfortable, who cares about having some love handles?