Study Links Emotional Support in Marriage to Lower BMI, Fewer Cravings - Video

Love might truly be the best medicine-especially when it comes to maintaining a healthy body weight. A new UCLA Health study, published in Gut Microbes, reveals that strong, supportive relationships-particularly happy marriages-can help protect against obesity by enhancing communication between the brain and the gut.

The researchers discovered that emotional support triggers a biological chain reaction involving the brain, metabolism, and the “love hormone,” oxytocin, creating a powerful natural defense against weight gain.

We already know that social connections boost survival rates and emotional well-being, but how close relationships affect physical health has remained a puzzle. This study sheds light on the mystery by showing how emotional bonds can influence eating behavior and body weight through a tightly connected brain-gut-hormone pathway.

Nearly 100 adults from Los Angeles took part in this research. Each participant shared details about their marital status, diet, emotional support, and lifestyle. The team conducted multiple assessments: brain scans while viewing food images, blood tests for oxytocin levels, and fecal analyses to study gut metabolism. Participants also completed psychological evaluations measuring the quality of emotional support in their relationships.

The findings were fascinating. Married people who felt deeply supported emotionally had lower BMIs and fewer food addiction tendencies compared to those in less supportive marriages. Their brain scans showed higher activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex—the region responsible for appetite control—indicating stronger self-regulation. Those with robust emotional ties also displayed healthier gut metabolism, especially in tryptophan-derived compounds that impact inflammation, mood, and energy.

Central to it all was oxytocin, which acted like a conductor harmonizing signals between the brain and gut. Participants with stronger relationships had higher oxytocin levels, helping control cravings while promoting better metabolic balance.

While the results cannot yet prove cause and effect, they highlight an important truth: emotional bonds are biologically embedded in our health. Strong relationships don’t just warm the heart—they nurture the brain, calm the gut, and may hold the key to sustainable weight control.

REFERENCE: Zhang, X., et al. (2025). Social bonds and health: exploring the impact of social relations on oxytocin and brain–gut communication in shaping obesity. Gut Microbes. DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2025.2566978. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19490976.2025.2566978