Based on reported intake, females consume more fruit than males. This is a consistent and robust difference observed in studies.
Understanding the Gender Difference in Fruit Intake
Research indicates that women tend to report a higher intake of fruits and vegetables compared to men. This distinction is explored through behavioral theories, such as the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which helps to explain the underlying reasons for this gender gap.
The provided reference highlights key factors contributing to this difference:
- Higher Reported Intake: Females consistently report consuming more fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) than men.
- Favorable Attitudes: Women tend to have more positive attitudes towards fruit and vegetable consumption. This means they are more likely to view eating fruit as beneficial, enjoyable, or important for their health.
- Greater Perceived Behavioral Control: Females also report a stronger sense of perceived behavioral control over their FVI. This implies they feel more capable and confident in their ability to eat fruit regularly, even when faced with potential barriers.
How the Theory of Planned Behavior Explains It:
The Theory of Planned Behavior suggests that a person's intention to perform a behavior (like eating fruit) is influenced by three main components:
- Attitudes towards the behavior: What one thinks about eating fruit (e.g., "Eating fruit is good for me").
- Subjective norms: What one believes others think about them eating fruit (e.g., "My family expects me to eat healthy").
- Perceived behavioral control: How easy or difficult one perceives the behavior to be (e.g., "I can easily buy and prepare fruit").
The reference specifically points out that females demonstrate more favorable attitudes and stronger perceived behavioral control regarding fruit and vegetable intake, which directly contributes to their higher reported consumption.
For more detailed information, you can refer to the study: Theory of Planned Behavior Explains Gender Difference in Fruit and ... pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC3490048
