Getting a divorce ranks among some of the top stressors in life, right alongside the death of a loved one, moving, job loss and experiencing a major illness or injury. With this in mind, it makes sense that your level of physical fitness might change. For some, it means a struggle with depression that can cause you to exercise less. For others, divorce inspires you to lose weight in order to become more attractive to the opposite sex. These situations are different for everyone, but researchers did find some commonalities.
Studying steps after a divorce
Research from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS) found that the link between changes in relationships and physical activity tend to be very different depending on gender and socioeconomic status.
For example, they found that men who had recently divorced walked fewer non-exercise steps than men who hadn’t recently divorced.
Likewise, women who had remarried during the four-year follow-up walked fewer steps than women who had a stable relationship.
Both men and women in the highest social class had a significant increase in aerobic steps, which are defined as steps taking during non-stop activities (at least 10 minutes) at a pace of 60 steps per minute or more.
Advice for post-divorce exercise
The researchers were quick to point out that it’s vital for everyone—regardless of their social class—to make time for exercise on a daily basis to decrease stress and chronic conditions, especially heart disease.
They explain that adding aerobic steps doesn’t necessarily mean doing them all at once, such as a long run or Zumba class.
“Actual exercising is not needed in order to add steps to daily life,” says Kasper Salin, a postdoctoral researcher, who contributed to the study. “Instead, attention should be paid to everyday choices. You could walk instead of driving or take stairs instead of an elevator.”
