A recent study from UCLA Health suggests that strong emotional support within marriage may help protect against obesity by affecting the communication between the brain and gut. The research, published in Gut Microbes, is reportedly the first to show how social bonds can influence weight and eating behaviors through pathways involving brain function, metabolism, and the hormone oxytocin.
Researchers collected data from nearly 100 participants in Los Angeles, examining factors such as marital status, Body Mass Index (BMI), diet quality, socioeconomic status, and levels of perceived emotional support. Participants underwent brain imaging while viewing food images, provided fecal samples for metabolic analysis, gave blood plasma for oxytocin measurement, and completed clinical evaluations.
The findings indicated that married individuals who reported higher levels of emotional support had lower BMI and fewer behaviors associated with food addiction compared to those with less support. Brain scans showed increased activity in areas responsible for controlling cravings among these individuals. Unmarried participants did not exhibit similar patterns in brain activity or behavior.
Additionally, stronger social support was linked to positive changes in gut metabolites produced by bacteria. These compounds play a role in regulating inflammation, immune response, energy balance, mood, and metabolism.
Central to these effects is oxytocin. Married participants with high emotional support had higher oxytocin levels than unmarried people. According to Church, one of the researchers involved in the study: "Think of oxytocin as a conductor orchestrating a symphony between the brain and gut. It strengthens the brain's ability to resist food cravings while promoting beneficial metabolic processes in the gut, both of which help maintain healthy weight."
The study also challenges assumptions about marriage automatically benefiting health outcomes; benefits were more pronounced among those who felt emotionally supported within their marriage. "Marriage may serve as a training ground for self-control," said Church. "Maintaining a long-term partnership requires consistently overriding destructive impulses and aligning with long-term goals, which may strengthen the same brain circuits involved in managing eating behavior."
Church emphasized that building strong relationships could be important for preventing obesity alongside diet and exercise interventions: "These results underscore the critical importance of building long-lasting, positive, and stable relationships to promote overall health," Church said. "Social connections aren't just emotionally fulfilling; they're biologically embedded in our health."
The authors acknowledged limitations including reliance on data collected at one point in time—which prevents establishing cause-and-effect—and noted most participants were overweight or obese while married subjects tended to be older. They recommend further research using larger samples over longer periods to confirm these findings.
