Attractiveness of romantic partner may lead to a desire to diet: Study

Body image acts as a intial parameter when it comes to presenting oneself infront of the society. This image affected by multiple factors including mass media images, parents, relationships, even our moods and plays significant influence on our choices and behaviors, especially related to dieting.

Now a new research surfacing from Florida State University reveals that the attractiveness of a romantic partner can serve as major force behind the desire to diet and seek a slim body, though that motivation contrasts sharply between men and women.

The study that was published in the journal Body Image, found that women evaluated as less attractive were more motivated to diet and be thin if their husbands were attractive. That extra motivation to diet, however, did not exist among women who were more attractive than their husbands. As for men, their motivation to diet was low regardless of their wives’ attractiveness or their own.

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Doctoral student Tania Reynolds stated, “The results reveal that having a physically attractive husband may have negative consequences for wives, especially if those wives are not particularly attractive. The research suggests there might be social factors playing a role in women’s disordered eating".

“In order to better understand women’s dieting motivations, the findings of this study highlight the value of adopting an approach that focuses on a couple’s relationship.”, Assistant Professor of Psychology Andrea Meltzer said.