Influence of gender on the eating behavior phenotype of university students

Abstract

Objective: To analyze eating behavior phenotypes in university students, with an emphasis on gender-related differences.

Materials and methods: A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study was conducted to analyze the relationship between gender and eating behavior phenotype in nutrition students at a higher education institution in southeastern Mexico. The sample was purposive and voluntary. A sociodemographic form and the Eating Behavior Phenotype Scale (EFCA) were applied, with high reliability (α = 0.86). Anonymity and informed consent were guaranteed. The analysis was performed with nonparametric tests (Chi-square and Mann-Whitney), organizing the data in Excel. Correlations between eating phenotypes and BMI were identified, highlighting the usefulness of the EFCA in assessing eating patterns.

Results: The study included 89 university students (37.08% men and 62.92% women), with an average age of 21.52 years. Different levels of eating phenotype were observed, with hyperphagia (50.56%) and the hedonic component (48.31%) predominating. Although the Mann-Whitney test did not reveal significant discrepancies in total scores between men and women (p = 0.379), the Chi-square test showed a significant relationship between gender and eating behavior classification (p = 0.000). This suggests that, although scores did not differ significantly, there were gender-differentiated eating patterns within the sample analyzed.

Conclusions: The study shows gender differences in eating phenotypes, highlighting more frequent emotional and compulsive behaviors in women.

Keywords: Phenotype; Feeding behavior; Gender.