Gender differences in food choice: The contribution of health beliefs and dieting

TLDR

Gender differences in health behaviors have been reported in many studies, yet the causal mechanisms remain largely unexplored. The study investigates gender differences in four food choice behaviors among young adults from 23 countries and concludes that further research is needed to identify additional factors encouraging men’s participation in healthy eating. The authors examined 4 food choice behaviors and tested two explanatory mechanisms—women’s higher dieting prevalence and stronger beliefs in healthy diets—to explain gender differences. Women were more likely than men to avoid high‑fat foods, consume fruit and fiber, and limit salt; dieting accounted for about 22–23% of the fat and fiber differences, while health beliefs explained roughly 40% of each behavior, together accounting for nearly 50% of the gender gap.

Abstract

Background: Gender differences in health behaviors have been reported in many studies but causal mechanisms have been neglected. Purpose and Methods: This study examines 4 food choice behaviors in a large sample of young adults from 23 countries and tests 2 possible explanatory mechanisms for the gender differences—women's greater likelihood of dieting and women's greater beliefs in the importance of healthy diets. Results: Women were more likely than men to report avoiding high-fat foods, eating fruit and fiber, and limiting salt (to a lesser extent) in almost all of the 23 countries. They were also more likely to be dieting and attached greater importance to healthy eating. Dieting status explained around 22% of the gender difference in fat choices, 23% of fiber choices, and 7% of fruit, but none of the gender difference in salt. Health beliefs explained around 40% of the differences in each of the dietary behaviors and together they explained almost 50%. Gender differences in food choices therefore appear to be partly attributable to women's greater weight control involvement and partly to their stronger beliefs in healthy eating. Conclusions: Further research is needed to understand the additional factors that could promote men's participation in simple healthy eating practices.