Couples sharing more than you might imagine was highlighted in a recent JAMA Open Network report.
Logically, people living in the same environment, relating to comparable values, and having similar behaviors should share characteristics—both good and bad. Smokers tolerate other smokers, healthy eaters encourage others to eat well, and exercisers (walkers, bikers, swimmers, ball players) all tend to meet and prefer mates with equivalent habits.
Cardiac risk factors are also shared, as was demonstrated in a study of 5,000 couples participating in a Quest Diagnostics wellness program. Couples completed a questionnaire about their habits focused on diet and exercise, which were combined with their body mass index (height and weight ratio), smoking status, total cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure.
Sharing a nutritious diet was the most frequent common characteristic found in 90% of healthy couples. Blood glucose was the lowest overlap at less than 10%. Both these extremes make sense as diet is behaviorally determined and strongly influenced by those around oneself, whereas blood glucose is heavily influenced by genetics, one’s inheritance. Physical activity concordance occurs about half of the time, namely active and passive people find like mates.
Body mass index also tends to intersect in couples about half of the time. Namely, normal weight folks seek out others like themselves. Unfortunately, other extremes either way seem to attract like-sized people. Smoking is similar. Nonsmokers have low tolerance for the smell of cigarette smoke. As noted in last week’s Blue Zones Project Bulletin, smoking is at an all-time low rate and still dropping.
Traditionally, people have been treated as individuals with specific therapies mostly focused on medications. Going forward, becoming more effective by addressing the spouse or significant other while also changing the environment will add to success. Solely adding another medication may give temporary solace and relief, but long-term, removing the offending behavior will accomplish much more.
Pediatrics is probably more advanced than adult medicine regarding environmental changes. Children are more a product of their surroundings than any other factor. Notable exceptions exist such as genetic diseases. Childhood asthma is better treated by a dust-free environment than most medications. Similarly, adults who suffer from asthma and live with smoker have an obvious opportunity; helping the significant-other to stop smoking will help both people improve.
The old expression, “You are what you eat,” remains true. A new aphorism, “You’re as healthy as your partner,” has now been affirmed. Investing in the health of those around you will pay dividends for your own well-being.
