Gender Differences in Food Choice and Dietary Intake in Modern Western Societies

Abstract

Driven by the above considerations this chapter will present and discuss available data emerging from an extensive literature review addressing differences and similarities between genders in food choice and food consumption patterns in modern western societies. An original elaboration of data on food consumption profiles according to gender will also be presented and critically evaluated under the perspective of nutrients intake and fulfilment of nutritional requirements at population level. In the preparation of this overview, we have undertaken a bibliographical search limited to social and scientific literature published in English. The search, informed by a strongly limited selection of words, included databases of peer-reviewed literature (SCOPUS) from 1995 to 2011. A ‘snowball procedure’ was employed whereby the references cited in each article were browsed for further relevant research. An original elaboration of data on food consumption profiles according to gender will also be presented and critically evaluated under the perspective of nutrients requirements.