Marital rows can make people put on weight by slowing down the metabolism, a study suggests.
Unhappy couples in marriages fraught with tension were found to be at a higher risk of obesity because their arguments caused them to burn fewer calories.
Those with a history of depression as well as a hostile marriage were found to be particularly prone to metabolic problems as their rows altered the way the body processed high-fat foods.
The lead researcher, Jan Kiecolt-Glaser, from Ohio State University, said: "Meals provide prime opportunities for ongoing disagreements in a troubled marriage, so there could be a long-standing pattern of metabolic damage stemming from hostility and depression." Researchers gave 43 healthy couples aged 24 to 61, who had been married for at least three years, a meal totalling 930 calories and 60g of fat.
The couples were asked to try to resolve issues that often caused conflict. Common topics were money, communication and in-laws.