At least, that's what a recent study shows:

"Women eat more unhealthy foods and tend to put on weight and increase their consumption of foods high in fat and sugar when they move in with a male partner," notes an analysis by Amelia Lake, a nutritionist with Britain's Newcastle University.

She based her conclusion on 20 dietary and lifestyle studies of cohabiting, heterosexual couples in the U.S., Australia and England.

Does this mean lesbian live-ins remain skinny?

The situation is even more complicated in Saudi Arabia, where exercise for women is frowned upon:

In Riyadh, hotel gyms and pools are off limits to women. Along the city's walking trails, where the women walk covered in the mandatory black cloaks, they are sometimes harassed by the muttawa.

Rana al-Abdullah said one such official ordered her to go back to her car when she was out walking one day and wouldn't leave her alone until she did. She now walks in malls.

Many Saudis say they are baffled by the religious arguments.

At a clinic that treats obesity-related diseases, a booklet left by a writer named Muhammad al-Habdan, warned that if girls' schools began P.E., Saudi girls would have to change into workout gear — and good girls should not disrobe outside their homes. Changing in a locker room might cause them to lose the shyness that is the hallmark of good morals, the booklet warned.

It went on to say that the girls might become attracted to each other after seeing their classmates in tight leotards and tops.

I had no idea that women's locker rooms were dens of inquity.

Sigh.

Americans are so callused about these things.

(Little wonder that ordinary Saudis are baffled by the religious arguments.)