If Your Spouse Works Out, You Might Be More Fit In Your Marriage, Study Shows

The couples that work out together stay together.

New findings presented at the American Heart Association's EPI/Lifestyle 2015 Scientific Sessions from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Balimore show that if your spouse workouts, you will be more likely to stay in shape.

Findings revealed that a spouse is about 40 to 70 percent more likely to start exercising regulary if the other takes the leap first.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advise that people engage in 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity every week. However, fewer than half of adults in the U.S. actually meet these requirements.

If your partner is out of shape, taking the first step, yourself, may be key to getting everyone back in shape. 

Laura Cobb, a doctoral student at Johns Hopkins and a co-author of the study, said that there is "an epidemic of people in this country who don't get enough exercise," and that speaking to couples rather than individuals may be the way to push people in the right direction as far as exercising regularly.

For the study, researchers examined the medical records of 3,261 couples. From 1987 to 1989, the couples had two medical visits that were about 6 years apart and their physical activity levels were recorded.

Findings revealed that about 33 percent of the wives and 40 percent of husbands met the minimum physical activity recommendations. However, by the second visit, the husband was 70 percent more likely to meet the guidelines if the wife had also met the guidelines by the first visit.

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).