Arguing with your partner can do more than just damage your relationship - it can make you put on weight.

Having a row was linked to an appetite-triggering hormone which can make us reach for the junk food, a study found.

Researchers at Ohio Sate University discovered that hostile exchanges were often followed a surge in the 'hungry hormone,' ghrelin.

But the hunger pangs only affect people who are of a healthy weight or overweight, not obese, they found.

For the study, couples ate a meal together before trying to resolve one or more conflicts in their relationship.

They then completed questionnaires about themselves and had samples of blood and saliva taken.

This was so levels of a key stress-related hormone and numbers of certain immune cells could be tested.

The participants also reported general anxiety symptoms and their sleep quality.

The researchers found a correlation between marital distress and poor food choices, with hostilities typically leaving people reaching for foods that were  higher in fat, sugar and salt.

Lead study author Lisa Jaremka said there was nothing to suggest the arguments had caused hunger, but that there was a strong correlation between the two.

Previous studies have found hungry people are more likely to lose their temper because when we haven’t eaten enough, our brain lacks the energy needed to exercise self-control. 

It is hoped the latest research will lead to a greater understanding of the link between marital difficulties and health problems.

People who were obese, with BMI 30 or higher showed no significant difference in hormone levels, researchers report.