Gender Differences In Consumption Research Articles

Income-Nutrition Gradient and Intrahousehold Allocation in Rural Pakistan

ObjectiveTo estimate the relationship between household income and child health outcomes for male and female children, aged 0–5 years, in rural Pakistan.MethodThe study uses 2014 round of Pakistan Rural Household Panel Survey (PRHPS) and regression analyses to estimate the relationship between household income and child health outcomes for male and female children in rural Pakistan.Results and Policy ImplicationsWe find that increase in income is associated with an increase in child weight-for-age and weight-for-height z-scores, and reduction in the likelihood of a child being underweight or wasted. However, our results suggest that these gains associated with an increase in income are greater for male children as compared to female children. These differences in income-nutrition gradient can be explained by the gender-differences in consumption of health inputs (e.g., food intake, vaccinations, and nutritional supplements) associated with an increase in income. Our results indicate the need for policy instruments that can encourage an equitable resource allocation within households.

Gender differences in consumption of leisure in Korea: Revisiting the concept of ‘cultural voraciousness’

This study explores gender differences in leisure activity, applying the concept of “cultural voraciousness”, using data from the 2014 Korean Time Use Survey. Drawing on 26,972 diaries kept by adults aged 35-64 years, we measured two aspects of leisure activity: 1) the total daily minutes spent on outdoor leisure, and 2) the sequential complexity index capturing cultural voraciousness (the variety and distribution of leisure activity) within a day. Results showed that Korean men consumed more leisure than women in terms of daily minutes spent on leisure and had more complexity in their leisure activities. The gender gap in leisure time and the complexity score remained large even in later life, when leisure time increased overall, compared with earlier life stages. Another important finding is that socioeconomic factors appear crucial in shaping the leisure consumption of men and women, but the impact of those factors on leisure differed according to gender. Men and women's leisure complexity was associated with current household income. Education was as a significant factor associated with women's leisure time and complexity for all age groups of women.

P788 Gender differences in consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods in Crohn’s disease patients

Abstract Background Consumption of processed foods is thought to be associated with Crohn’s disease (CD) pathogenesis. In Israel, CD demonstrates higher prevalence rate among men. Our aim was to examine gender differences among CD patients in the consumption of processed foods. Methods A post hoc analysis of a prospective validation study of a novel processed food questionnaire (PFQ) was performed in adult CD patients followed at a tertiary center in Israel. The PFQ categorises food items according to the level of processing as unprocessed or minimally processed, processed and ultra-processed foods. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Linear regression, ANOVA, t-test were performed looking at the association between disease characteristics, age, education, gender and consumption of processed foods. Results Sixty patients (33 men, 27 women) were included in the analysis. Mean age of participants was 29.4 ± 8.6 for men and 31.7 ± 10.2 for women. Men consumed on average more portions of processed foods per day than women (3.09 ± 2.31 vs. 1.98 ± 1.32, p = 0.023, respectively). Similar association was found for ultra-processed foods consumption, where men consumed 1.63 ± 0.75 more portions per day than women (5.77 ± 2.90 vs. 4.14 ± 2.87, p = 0.034, respectively). Disease characteristics (duration, behaviour, and activity), age and education levels were not associated with consumption of processed foods. Conclusion Men with CD consumed significantly more processed and ultra-processed foods compared with women, emphasising a need for dietary intervention in men if these findings are consistent in larger studies.

Exploring gender differences in the Italian traditional pizza consumption

The studies on gender differences in food consumption have experienced a deep and remarkable development from several perspectives. Many studies have been addressed to highlight whether differences exist among males and females in purchasing behaviors or consumption for specific food products but no study pizza consumption segmented by gender has been carried out. This study evaluates gender differences in the consumption of traditional Italian pizza. For this purpose, a quantitative study was conducted on a representative sample of Sicilian pizza consumers. Our findings showed that there exist any gender differences in pizza consumption that appear to be strongly related to preferences for sensory attributes such as smell, appearance, crunchiness as well for price. Our findings show that gender differences can significantly influence the buying process of this traditional Italian food, and they have important implications for the food industry since gender differences should be taken into account in new formulation and characterization of pizza.

Frequency and socio-demographic correlates of eating meals out and take-away meals at home: cross-sectional analysis of the UK national diet and nutrition survey, waves 1-4 (2008-12).

BackgroundFood prepared out-of-home tends to be less healthful than food prepared at home, with a positive association between frequency of consumption and both fat intake and body fatness. There is little current data on who eats out-of-home food. We explored frequency and socio-demographic correlates of eating meals out and take-away meals at home, using data from a large, UK, population representative study.MethodsData were from waves 1–4 of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008–12). Socio-demographic variables of interest were gender, age group, and socio-economic position. Self-reported frequency of consuming meals out and take-away meals at home was categorised as: less than once per week and once per week or more. Analyses were performed separately for adults (aged 18 years or older) and children.ResultsData from 2001 adults and 1963 children were included. More than one quarter (27.1%) of adults and one fifth (19.0%) of children ate meals out once per week or more. One fifth of adults (21.1%) and children (21.0%) ate take-away meals at home once per week or more. There were no gender differences in consumption of meals out, but more boys than girls ate take-away meals at home at least weekly. The proportion of participants eating both meals out and take-away meals at home at least weekly peaked in young adults aged 19–29 years. Adults living in more affluent households were more likely to eat meals out at least once per week, but children living in less affluent households were more likely to eat take-away meals at home at least once per week. There was no relationship between socio-economic position and consumption of take-away meals at home in adults.ConclusionsOne-fifth to one-quarter of individuals eat meals prepared out-of-home weekly. Interventions seeking to improve dietary intake by reducing consumption of out-of-home food may be more effective if tailored to and targeted at adults aged less than 30 years. It may also be important to develop interventions to help children and adolescents avoid becoming frequent consumers of out-of-home food.

The contribution of yogurt to nutrient intakes across the life course

The contribution of yogurt to nutrient intakes across the life course

Lifetime smoking habits among Norwegian men and women born between 1890 and 1994: a cohort analysis using cross-sectional data

ObjectivesProviding lifetime smoking prevalence data and gender-specific cigarette consumption data for use in epidemiological studies of tobacco-induced cancer in Norway. Characterising smoking patterns in birth cohorts is essential for evaluating...

The influence of friends and peers on children’s food intake. An experimental study

School-aged children spend a substantial amount of time interacting with other children. Recent work has suggested that peers and friends influence children’s eating attitudes and behaviours, but it is unclear whether there are any differences between the effect that friends versus peers may have on children’s eating. The research presented considers the effect of groups of friends and groups of peers on preadolescent children’s food intake. Following their school lunch, children aged 8–9 years were offered free access to two energy dense foods (chocolate cookies and crisps) and two nutrient dense foods (carrot sticks and apple pieces) whilst completing a game task. On one occasion children played and ate with a group of friends, on the other with a group of familiar peers. Gender differences in consumption were observed. For boys, there were significant differences in the consumption of both of the nutrient dense foods, with boys consuming more carrots and apples when with their friends, compared to with their peers. For girls, there was a significant difference in consumption for carrots only, such that girls consumed more carrots when in the presence of friends, compared to peers. In terms of overall consumption levels, boys consumed significantly more when with their friends, compared to with their peers. The same was not found for girls. The results provide some evidence that social context (being in the presence of friends or peers) and gender may have a differential impact on consumption in preadolescent children.

Commentary on Rossheim and Thombs (2011): Artificial Sweeteners, Caffeine, and Alcohol Intoxication in Bar Patrons

This commentary discusses the paper by Rossheim and Thombs (Alcohol Clin Exp Res 35, 2011), which examined the relationship between type of alcohol mixer (regular caffeinated cola, diet caffeinated cola, energy drink, or no mixer) and breath alcohol readings in bar patrons. The significance of the findings of this study and new unaddressed questions for the field are discussed. Rossheim and Thombs (2011) reported that breath alcohol concentration readings were highest when patrons reported the consumption of caffeine mixers that were artificially sweetened (i.e., diet cola), after adjusting for potential confounds. Women were more likely to consume diet cola-caffeinated mixed drinks. The findings from this field study raise several new interesting questions. Given the reported gender difference in consumption of diet cola-caffeinated mixed drinks, more research is needed regarding gender differences in gastric emptying time for alcoholic beverages mixed with artificially sweetened versus sucrose sweetened caffeinated drinks. In addition, the recent explosion in the energy drink market has resulted in the availability of sugar-free or diet versions of most energy drink products. The implications of mixing diet energy drinks with alcohol are unknown.

Progression of alcohol consumption across the drinking career in alcoholics and social drinkers.

To document and compare the changes in alcohol intake over the drinking career in alcoholic (n = 273) and social (n = 152) drinkers and to relate the changes to age and to the prevalence of morning drinking. Lifetime alcohol intake was assessed in face-to-face interviews by asking subjects to report drinking patterns during different "phases" of their drinking careers, beginning with the onset of regular drinking and continuing up to the present. Alcohol consumption began at higher quantities and higher frequencies in alcoholics (prealcoholics) and rapidly escalated within a few years to values well out of the range of moderation. The alcohol intake of social drinkers at the beginning phase was only about 70% that of alcoholics. In contrast to alcoholics, the alcohol intake of social drinkers remained relatively constant across subsequent drinking phases at about three to four drinks per drinking occasion, with only a slight increase in the frequency of drinking over sequential drinking phases. The relationship of total alcohol consumption to age in alcoholics was described best by a curvilinear function, with alcohol consumption peaking near age 40. Gender differences in consumption were decreased with adjustment for body water content. The higher initial alcohol intakes in alcoholics may reflect a lower sensitivity to the intoxicating effects of alcohol, or, alternatively, a greater ability of alcoholics to develop tolerance. The high prevalence of morning drinking in alcoholics compared to social drinkers reinforces the usefulness of morning drinking as a diagnostic tool, particularly for female alcoholism.