Divorce can take a toll on a man, but recent research said it may also be a boost for his health. The Daily Telegraph reported the findings of a study that suggested divorce is actually good for a man's fitness. The findings were published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Karolinska Institute researchers in Stockholm, Sweden, found a significant increase in fitness levels among divorced men. This was attributed to social pressure on single men to keep themselves fit in order to be attractive and find a partner. Married men don't have that challenge, so they are more likely to let themselves go. That also goes for men who divorce but then remarry.

The study also stated that after a break-up women usually do not see an added health benefit. The scientists studied 9,000 men and women over eight years. The participants were tested regularly on treadmills to measure their fitness, as reported by the Daily Mail .

Previous studies have said otherwise. The Daily Mail reported that a 2009 study found that divorcees have 20 percent more chronic illnesses than those who never marry. For those who remarry, it drops to 12 percent.