The gender difference in behaviour towards a healthy diet and lifestyle

Several studies have described remarkable differences in food choice between men and women. Consistently, women are reported to have higher intakes of fruit and vegetables, higher intakes of dietary fibre and lower intakes of fat. In accordance with such more healthy food choice, women usually attach greater importance to healthy eating. In addition the motivation of weight control is more prominent in women and they are more likely to diet or restrain their eating behaviour. Studies found that health beliefs and weight control motivation may explain up to 50 percent of gender differences in food choice. However, the weight control motivation of women and the resulting dieting behaviour may promote the development of eating disorders like bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder, particularly if rigidly restrained eating behaviour is practiced. Thus deliberate vomiting as a measure of weight control has been reported by more than 3.5 per cent of 10 to 14 year old school children. The less healthy food choice profiles of men may be related to their poorer nutritional knowledge. Moreover, health beliefs, eating attitudes and dieting appear to be phenomena which vary throughout life span. Studies found that the importance attached to dieting and healthiness of food may be highest in college-aged women seem to become lower as people grow older.