Relationships

With the popularity of weight shows like "The Biggest Loser" and the dating show "More to Love", Date.com during the months of July and August asked thousands of men if they preferred to date women who are thin or women who have a few extra pounds. In a surprising result, 85 percent of men preferred to date a heavier women. 80 percent of the men who liked heavier women said the reason for this was heavier women appreciate the attention a man would give them more and that heavier women are also less bitchy than thin women (their words not mine). The funny thing is, in a similar survey for women, Date.com found that 90% of women thought heavier women would have a harder time dating because men can't see beyond a few extra pounds.

View the press release for more results from the survey by men and women and to find out more about the dating site, read our review of Date.com.

Black State has an interesting article on interracial dating which is based on statistics from the 2008 U.S census results. In 2008, in the United States:

Black men married

• 4,190,000 Black women.
• 310,000 White women.
• 39,700 Asian women.

For a total of 4,539,700 marriages. This is 7.1% of all marriages.

White men married

• 55,399,200 White women.
• 713,000 Asian women.
• 137,000 Black women.

For a total of 56,249,200 marriages. This is 88.2% of all marriages.

Asian men married

• 2,790,000 Asian women.
• 193,000 White women.
• 8400 Black women.

For a total of 2,991,400 marriages. This is 4.7% of all marriages.

In total there was 63.8 million marriages in America last year.

According to Wikipedia of the 300 million or so Americans in 2006:

• 73.6 percent or 220.8 million are White.
• 13.5 percent or 40.5 million are Black.
• 6.4 percent or 19.2 million are "some other race". This was a non standard category in the U.S. Census.
• 4.4 percent or 13.1 million are Asian.
• 2 percent or 6.1 million are Multiracial
• 0.8 percent or 2.4 million are Natives.

The marriage statistics are 2 years newer than the other data but are close enough for us to do some rather simple comparisons. From the marriage statistics you can see Black, White and Asian all married within their own race the majority of time. As far as different ethnic groups are concerned, it looks like White men appear to prefer Asian women over Black women. White men married Asian woman 5 times more often than Black women even though there are 3 times as many Black Americans. This also appears to be true for Asian men since only just over 4 percent of their marriages to other ethnic groups was to Black Americans.

For more information on some of these trends, visit BlackState.com and for a dating site that specializes in Interracial dating, read our review of Interracial Match.

We found information on a poll which looked at how money and the recession plays into relationships of younger adults. 1000 men and women from the ages of 18 to 34 participated in the poll. Here are some of the question that were asked to women:

If you were on the fence about dating someone, would you more likely go out with them if he made a lot of money?

• 59 percent of women said yes. Part of the reason this percentage is so high is, scientists suggest that women may be hard-wired to find a man who can provide for their offspring.

Do you use what a man is wearing as an indicator of their success and resources?

• 74 percent of woman said yes.

Would you tell your friends and family if your boyfriend was unemployed or under-employed?

• 62 percent said no.

If your boy friend was unemployed or under-employed would you down play your own accomplishments?

• 73 percent said yes.

For the men, here are some of the question that were asked:

Do you earn less than your girlfriend?

• 28 percent said yes. A third of these men said they still paid for most things.

Would you tell your friends and family if your girlfriend was unemployed or under-employed?

• 42 percent said they would not tell anybody.

For the full story, read CBS News.

Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy of Dancing with the Stars officially called off their engagement last weekend. The couple became an item during a season of the show in 2008 and became engaged 6 months later during New Year's Eve, in Las Vegas.

Funny how this news comes about 2 weeks before the premiere of the new season of Dancing with the Stars on ABC. I call that good timing!

Anyways, in this season of the show, Karina will be partnered with Aaron Carter and Maksim with Debi Mazar.

Do want to know how to make your transition back into dating easier? Try the following steps:

• Boost Self-Esteem - It is a lot easier to attract someone if you also find yourself attractive inside and out.
• Be Proactive - Create your own opportunities. Join some online dating sites, single groups or take that offer from your friend that has the "perfect date" for you.
• Find Fun Friends - Ask family and friends if they have anyone they could put you in touch with who is single.
• Take it Slowly - Be aware of your vulnerabilities. Go on double dates to help build confidence.
• Not Dating, Socializing - Relax and try not to make dating a stressful situation for you.
• Be Honest - Try to be honest with yourself, friends and family about the person you are dating. Don't build the person up in your mind.
• Be Considerate - When you start to date make sure you (and your family) are over your previous relationship.

For the full story and more points on getting back into dating, read the Herald Sun.

Looks like this post is a week late. From September 20 until the 26 in 2009 it was National Singles Week. In the 1980s, the Buckeye Singles Council of Ohio started this observance which falls on the third full week of September. It was started to

... acknowledge that many unmarried Americans do not identify with the word “single” because they are parents, have partners or are widowed.

Here are some recent interesting facts and statistics on singles in America:

• There are now 95.9 million unmarried people in the U.S. who are 18 years or older. This makes up 43 percent of all adults. (from 2008)
• 53 percent of these singles are women
• 61 percent of these singles never have been married before. 24 percent have been divorced and a further 15 percent were widowed.
• Seniors (65+) account for 15.8 million of adult singles which 16 percent having never been married.
• 11.6 million of adult singles are parents living with their children, 9.8 million are women.

For the full fact sheet on the Unmarried and Single Americans Week, visit the U.S. Census Bureau.