Gender Differences in Dietary Patterns and Eating Behaviours in Individuals with Obesity

Background/objectives: Obesity is a global health problem with significant chronic disease risks. This study examined gender differences in eating behaviour, body composition, eating frequency and time of hunger in an Italian cohort with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) to inform gender-specific management strategies.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 720 adults (51.5% female, mean age 44.4 ± 13.8 years) assessed body composition and eating behaviour using principal component analysis (PCA) to classify eating profiles (structured, irregular, social and disordered/impulsive eaters).

Results: Males showed higher weight, abdominal circumference and fat mass, while females showed higher fat mass percentages ( < 0.001). Gender differences were observed in the frequency of meals (e.g., 54.7% of males and 64.7% of females consumed 4-5 meals per day, = 0.0018) and the time of hunger (males: before dinner; females: morning hunger, = 0.005). The PCA profiles revealed that the 'structured eaters' had a healthier body composition, whereas the 'disordered/impulsive eaters' had a higher fat mass. Irregular eaters were predominantly male (41.0%), while disordered eaters were predominantly female (39.9%) ( = 0.0016).

Conclusions: Gender-specific eating patterns influence obesity outcomes. Structured eating was associated with healthier profiles, whereas impulsive or irregular patterns were related to higher fat mass. The retrospective design and non-validated questionnaire for dietary behaviour assessment limit generalisability, warranting further research for tailored interventions.

Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06654674).