Being single 'worse than smoking'

BBC News ^ | 15 August 2002

[JediGirl]

The health benefits of being married are so large that single men are at greater risk of dying than smokers, says a study.

The study looked at comparative risks over a seven year period - but experts warned that the lifetime risks of smoking were much higher.

Scientists have frequently found that married men and women tend to be in better health than their single counterparts.

This is partly because of the "social support" of having a wife or husband - and perhaps because both single men and women have a worse lifestyle - and no-one to look out for their wellbeing.

However, the latest study, by researchers at the University of Warwick, looked at thousands of records from the British Household Panel Survey and the British Retirement Survey.

It found that, even when the effects of smoking, drinking and other poor lifestyles were taken into account, married men had a much lower risk of death.

Over a seven year period, the married male had a 9% lower risk of dying compared with an unmarried one.

When smoking and drinking in this group was taken into account, the benefit was reduced to 6.1%.

Not money

The effect was less for women - reducing the risk of mortality by 2.9%.

According to the Warwick calculations, a male smoker had a 5.8% greater risk of dying, and a female smoker 5.1% extra risk.

Professor Andrew Oswald, who led the research, suggested that male smokers should get wed as soon as possible to counteract the risk.

He said: "Forget cash. It is as clear as day from the data that marriage, rather than money, is what keeps people alive.

"It makes perfect sense to ask how a ring of gold can possibly do this.

"But the honest answer is, that we don't know."

However, while over a seven year period, the risks of smoking compared to single life might be roughly comparable, the lifetime risk to smokers is much higher.

A long-term smoker is thought to have a one in two chance of dying prematurely.

Whether the lifetime risk of being single even begins to approach this figure is highly dubious.

[Inge_CAV]

"What? Hold on, now that I've had lunch, I might be able to think."

Bisquits and gravy?

: )

[asformeandformyhouse]

Fact 1: Married men live longer.

Fact 2: Married men live a slower lifestyle than single men.

Conclusion: If you want a long slow death, get married.

[grumpster-dumpster]

If you want...I'll get you a reservation in Davey Jones' Locker... you'll need it as much as I'll be needing mine! LOL!

Best wishes...you'll need them NOW brother...Oh will you need them!
-grump

[Inge_CAV]

I am saddling up a fast horse now, See ya .......... : )

[twigs]

you don't know who she is anyway

Isn't she the woman in Hungry?

[E Rocc]

Well, I guess I'm screwed. Single smoker and drinker and when I am in a relationship, I always forget about the lid.

The lid is an excuse for females to get mad at males. That's it. Guys sit on it too, and always look first. Even when we're so drunk we see two of them, we look.

My niece is seven. When she pees at my house, if the seat was up she not only puts it down by herself each and every time, she puts it back up when she's done. Female friends of mine who hear this tend to be outraged by it. :snicker:

-Eric

[MadIvan]

Ivan, leave me out of this, okay. Thanks. I've got plenty on my plate today.

Having an Angela Gheorgiu day? Sorry to hear that. ;)

Best Regards, Ivan

[Desdemona]

Let's try this again. You poor guy.

"I often meet single women of my own age group who share some of the “problems” of being single and would like to settle down. I don’t feel they are bitter either."

I'm not bitter because I figure God has a plan for me, but I would like my grandmother to quit begging for great-grandchildren. I have find a father for them first.

"Of course, you must understand that I reside in an area of the world where it’s normal for people to marry at a young age, religion is flourishing, and there is a genuine respect for the family."

True. And nosey well meaning people can be a pain in the backside when they ask why you're NOT married. (Remember, over half my family lives on that side)

"well, the women are FAT! They are blobs of un-toned muscle fed on a diet of biscuits and gravy…6 or 7 times a day…. all washed down with a diet coke to justify their deluded lifestyle."

I won't argue here. Disgusting isn't it. I've never had biscuits and gravy and don't drink diet coke. Starbuck's, thank you.

"- Not only are they FAT! They have tattoos and about 243 earrings!"

No arguments here either. And they all think it's just way cool. Proud to say, no tattoos, no piercings. It does make finding earrings a pain, though.

"- Every one of them has a da*n cell-phone stuck to their ear and you never know when, during the course of a conversation, they must interrupt you to make a call to their friend HILDA TO GET HER RECIPE FOR BISCUITS & GRAVY!"

You reminded me. I forgot where I put mine. At least it's on today. Only five people have the number and one of them is in Ireland. Occasionally I call it just so I can find it.

"- NOT ONLY ARE THEY FAT! These “single” women all have at least 4 kids… combined weight about 1900 lbs."

Isn't that amazing? No kids either.

"- They believe the best education is the “School of Hard Knocks”… Meaning of course, all those years they spent in the 3rd grade were for nothing!"

3rd? Worst year of my life. Well, almost. Except for the years I worked my way through Wash U.

"- Oh, they’ve got the true faith alright… They don’t smoke, drink, or dance unless they’re alone or with somebody…BUT THEY DON’T HESITATE TO TELL YOU HOW BAD SMOKING, DRINKING, AND DANCING IS FOR YOU!"

Don't smoke. Never have. Never will. It's really bad for the vocal chords. Dancing is best when it's ballroom, but otherwise, it's great cardiovascular exercise. Drinking - well, I'm not into beer (I know heresy here in Bud-town). The family bar used to be in my closet. A martini from time to time...and wine with dinner.

"- When they do decide to put the cell-phone down (in-between bites of biscuits and gravy), and get around to conversing… it’s always about how their ex-husband treated them so unfairly… and how “lucky” their parents were to stay together all those years…despite “dad’s” incarceration."

Not even touching this one.

The only other thing you need to know is that I like to ride roller-coasters (NOT Carnie rides) and I've never been bowling.

Does that cover it?

Des

[MadIvan]

Hmmmm. . .let me get this straight. You know her well enough to think she might be the one to 'tie you down' but she doesn't know you?

It's called being smitten. It may happen to you someday. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[E Rocc]

The women on here may not like the fact that we're not tied down and seek to change it.

If this was a liberal board the meaning of "tied down" would need to be specified. >:)

-Eric

[MadIvan]

Howdy, MI! Lifelong bachelor here, too, and lonely, sooooo lonely...all I do all evening long is sit on my piles of cash, licking my eyebrows..

Actually I'm not that lonely. Given the amount of sites I run I have more chatter than I know what to do with. ;)

As for licking my eyebrows...I concede that ground to you, sir. ;)

(ROFL)

Regards, Ivan

[Desdemona]

NO, NOT biscuits and gravy. Yuck. A turkey sandwich on wheat with a glass of orange juice, as a matter of fact. And a trip to Starbuck's as the triptofin (sp?) is kicking in.

[MadIvan]

Any woman with a lick of common sense would not wish to change your status as long as you have this attitude about marriage. Nothing against you - just doesn't make sense to marry a guy who doesn't want to be married

I have a cynical sense of humour. I do one day want to be married again, but my experience has made me more cautious and prudent.

Regards, Ivan

[E Rocc]

In the words of Jim Rome, "Rack It!".

-Eric

[MadIvan]

Isn't she the woman in Hungry?

Nem. Unfortunately that didn't work.

I could go into it, but I don't want to give Oprah Winfrey any show ideas. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[sonserae]

Well, I'm not looking anymore. I'm engaged....to a nice guy from church! A good ol' preacher boy who is a cameraman. I found that the only REAL men around here are cameramen....must be lugging that 35 pound camera on their shoulders that puts hair on their chest.

[Desdemona]

"How do you fell about "spayed" ...which will happen to me if Desdemona ever catches me! ;o)"

Oh, come on. You know better than that.

[MadIvan]

Well well well, it looks like my small intervention has perhaps found grumpster a date. ;)

laughing loudly and long

And if you try and order biscuits and gravy for her, grumpster mate, you'd better be prepared to run. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Desdemona]

Ivan, preening is unbecoming. And besides... nevermind.

[E Rocc]

My analogy: Animals at the zoo also live longer than animals in the wild.

They also get shot with a tranquilizer a lot, don't get to breed unless the zookeepers arrange it, and have no privacy.

They say marriage is an institution. I'm not ready to be institutionalized.

-Eric