AUTHOR=Markey Charlotte H. , August Kristin J. , Kelly Kristin , Dunaev Jamie Price 

TITLE=Perceptions of Weight Change Among Romantic Partners: Considering Body Image, Relationship Experiences, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Global Women's Health

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/global-womens-health/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2022.798257

DOI=10.3389/fgwh.2022.798257

ISSN=2673-5059

ABSTRACT=<p>Romantic relationship experiences have been found to be relevant to body image and weight in adulthood. In this study, we investigated predictors of heterosexual, lesbian, and gay romantic partners' (<italic>N</italic> = 500, <italic>M</italic><sub><italic>age</italic></sub> = 29.3) perceptions of their own and their partners' weight at the beginning of their relationship and 4.8 years later, on average. Perceived changes in <italic>participants'</italic> own weight status was associated with greater body dissastisfaction and longer relationship length. Perceived changes in <italic>partners'</italic> weight status was associated with their partners' BMI, as well as relationship quality. We also found that gender was important in understanding some of these associations. Implications of weight perceptions for individuals' and their partners' health and well-being and the critical role of relationship quality are discussed in the context of the health regulation model.</p>