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Published on: July 29, 2020
Sex differences in Hadza eating frequency by food type
J Colette Berbesque1, Frank W Marlowe, Alyssa N Crittenden
1Centre for Research in Evolutionary Anthropology (CREA), Department of Life Sciences, Roehampton University, Holybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, United Kingdom. Colette.Berbesque@roehampton.ac.uk
Summary
In Hadza foragers, women eat more frequently than men, despite consuming lower-quality foods. This study explores sex-based dietary patterns and foraging behaviors in Tanzania.
Area of Science:
- Human evolutionary biology
- Nutritional anthropology
- Behavioral ecology
Background:
- Foraging populations exhibit diverse subsistence strategies.
- Understanding sex-based differences in diet and resource use is crucial for evolutionary studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex differences in eating frequencies among the Hadza, a Tanzanian foraging population.
- To examine how food sharing within the camp influences the diets of men and women.
Main Methods:
- Utilized instantaneous scan observations to collect eating frequency data from Hadza individuals.
- Analyzed diet composition and sex-specific foraging acquisition data.
- Controlled for variations in time spent within the camp by each sex.
Main Results:
- Significant sex differences were observed in overall eating frequency and diet composition within the camp.
- Women were observed eating significantly more frequently than men, even after controlling for time spent in camp.
- Both sexes were more likely to eat women-acquired foods in camp compared to men-acquired foods.
Conclusions:
- The Hadza exhibit pronounced sex differences in their in-camp diets, with men consuming higher-quality foods but women eating more frequently.
- Women's higher eating frequency and reduced foraging time suggest a trade-off between diet quality and consumption regularity.
- Further research is needed to determine the long-term health implications of regular, lower-quality caloric intake versus a variable, higher-quality diet for reproductive fitness.
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