Gender differences in childhood food preference: evaluation using a subjective picture choice method

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Child Psychology
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Adult men exhibit a higher incidence of obesity compared to women, potentially linked to preferences for calorie-dense foods.
• The specific life stage at which gender differences in food preferences emerge remains unclear.
• A novel picture choice method was developed to assess food preferences and interests in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the onset of gender differences in food preferences during childhood.
• To evaluate children's food interests and preferences using a subjective picture choice method.
• To explore the relationship between food preferences and nutritional content (energy density, fat content).

Main Methods:

• A total of 486 children aged 6-12 years participated in the study.
• Children selected preferred foods from picture panels to determine food interest and preference scores.
• Nutritional indices (Japanese food score, energy density, fat energy, saturated fatty acids) were calculated for chosen foods and compared by sex, age, and body mass index.

Main Results:

• Boys demonstrated significantly higher food interest and fat preference scores than girls in both 7-9 and 10-12 year-old age groups.
• Positive correlations were observed between food interest scores and measures of energy density, fat energy content, and saturated fatty acid content.
• These findings indicate early-emerging gender disparities in preferences for energy-dense foods.

Conclusions:

• The study identified distinct gender differences in food preferences among early elementary school children using the picture choice method.
• These early-life gender differences in food preference may contribute to later-life obesity disparities.
• The findings offer valuable insights for developing targeted dietary interventions for childhood obesity.