British women have sweet tooth, men prefer fast food

LONDON (Reuters) -- Differences between the sexes in Britain are more than physical. Men and women eat differently.

While many women prefer a so-called traditional British diet high in refined sugars and fat, low in fresh fruit and vegetables and washed down with plenty of tea, men opt for beer and fast food, researchers said on Wednesday.

A survey of more than 2,000 people throughout Britain showed that most men and women fall into distinct diet groups which are influenced by where they live and their socio-economic status.

Men and women with the poorest diets live in the north of England and Scotland and tend to be smokers and on lower incomes. Young people, regardless of where they live, have a taste for fast food.

"Among men the most prevalent diet was a beer and convenience food," said Dr Jane Pryer, of University College in London, adding that 34 percent of men fell into that category.

"It is consumed by men -- young single men who are manual workers who come from the north."

An almost equal number of women liked the traditional British diet best. Nearly a quarter of women and 15 percent of men had healthy diets consisting of high fibre, low fat meals and drank coffee and wines. They were generally younger and wealthier.

Pryer, whose research is published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, said 17.5 percent of men and 15 percent of women ate a healthy but sweet diet made up of lots of wholegrain cereals, fish and fruit, but cakes and coffee as well.

People who participated in the survey completed seven-day food diaries detailing what they ate and drank.

Nutritionists recommend eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, fish, not too much red meat and drinking plenty of water but not too much alcohol.

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University College London
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

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