Nutrients (Feb 2023)

Sex Differences in Effects of Mood, Eating-Related Behaviors, and BMI on Food Appeal and Desire to Eat: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

  • Kristina T. Legget,
  • Marc-Andre Cornier,
  • Lauren Sarabia,
  • Eve M. Delao,
  • Susan K. Mikulich-Gilbertson,
  • Crystal Natvig,
  • Christina Erpelding,
  • Tessa Mitchell,
  • Allison Hild,
  • Eugene Kronberg,
  • Jason R. Tregellas

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030762
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 3
p. 762

Abstract

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Although sex differences in food intake have been observed consistently, contributing factors are not well understood. Using a cross-sectional online survey (n = 306; 151 men, 155 women), this study aimed to assess how sex impacts relationships between food ratings (appeal/desire to eat for high-calorie (HC) and low-calorie (LC) food images) and eating-related attitudes/behaviors, body mass index (BMI), and mood. Across participants, increased state- and trait-based hunger, disinhibition, and cravings were associated with both increased HC appeal and desire (p p p p p < 0.05). Significant effects of sex on the associations between food ratings and eating-related attitudes/behaviors, BMI, and mood were not observed, however. Findings support the importance of considering mood and eating-related attitudes/behaviors in investigations of food cue responsivity.

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