Do You Eat Like A Man Or Binge Like A Woman?

Everyone has got a different idea of how much food is too much food, but according to a study of over 400 college students, the amount differs hugely depending on if it's a male or female doing the eating.

Participants were posed the question: Chris just ate three doughnuts in nine minutes.

More than half the 400-plus college students he surveyed felt that eating three doughnuts qualified as a binge--if the person feasting on them was female. But guys had to eat six doughnuts before the same number of students labeled it a binge. Women were particularly likely to show this sex bias; they gave male snackers far more slack.

So, why is this a problem?

For one thing, women are more inclined to suffer emotional fallout from thinking they've binged. "They're likely to feel depressed and guilty," says LaPorte, "whereas men tend to view eating in physical terms: rather than expressing negative emotions, they'll say they feel stuffed or satisfied."

What do you consider a binge? Does it differ from male to female? Do you think the concerns are valid, or does it make sense that a man should have to eat more before something is considered a binge?

In other eating news, find out if you're a sneak eater, read about a morbidly obese jailbird who is suing the county for his 100 pound weight-loss, or, if this post just served to make you hungry, go here to read about America's best BBQ.

Lastly, here is a clip of Nathan's 2007 hot dog eating contest, where Joey Chestnut beats reigning champ Kobayashi with a record 66 hot dogs.

Comments

[desthmoneses]

It's important to keep in mind that males can eat more without consequence, it may not be fair to women but there bodies are designed to put on wieght easily and lose it difficultly, males less so. Because of this we have different ammounts that are o.k. for men and women to eat and stay healthy, even organizations like weight watchers acknowledge this and allow male members more food points. There's nothing sexist about these views, there based on real world facts and don't hurt anyone.

A better question to pose in this article would be why women feel more emotional stress and investment in their eating habits, and what can be done to help change these views.

[LivingStardust]

"Sport" eating is a sin in most major faiths and unethical by any standard. One should not be rewarded for gluttony.

[jaycg9]

Eating is a pleasurable experience, for those of us fortunate to have the option of going hungry if we so choose. Sport eating is such a uniquely American thing. It's offensive to those whose day would but substantially improved by just one hot dog and the enjoyment is taken out of it by making it a competition.