Gender effect on eating habits of Nigerian school children

Jaachimma Chioma Obidoa, Kay Chinonyelum Nwamaka Onyechi, Chiamaka Adaobi Chukwuone, Ifeoma Ngozi Dimelu, Vera Victor-Aigbodion, Chiedu Eseadi, Chinyere Loveth Chukwu, Juliana Ngozi Ejiofor, Nkiru Edith Obande-Ogbuinya, Mercy Benedette Ifeoma Uba, Raphael Oluwasina Babalola Folorunsho, Charles Azubuike Oraelosi, Anthonia Ekanibe Onuorah

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

It is important to investigate children's eating habits based on different eating behaviors such as satiety responsiveness (SR), slowness in eating (SE), food fussiness (FF), food responsiveness (FR), enjoyment of food (EF), desire to drink (DD), emotional under-eating (EUE), and emotional over-eating (EOE). The main objective of this research was to investigate whether gender affects the eating habits of Nigerian school children.A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and June 2019. A total of 120 parents of school children participated in the study. The Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) was used to collect data. The CEBQ is composed of 35 items and eight subscales.Based on the analysis of parents' reports, DD was higher in boys than girls, t (118)=7.086, P<.001; EOE was higher in boys than girls, t (118)=5.184, P<.001; EF was higher in boys than girls, t (118)=2.183, P<.001; FF was higher in boys than girls, t (118)=9.441, P<.001; and SR was higher in boys than girls, t (118)=7.323, P<.001. However, EUE was lower in boys than girls, t (118)=-4.339, P<.001; FR was lower in boys than girls, t(118)=-3.112, P<.001; SE was lower in boys than girls, t(118)=-3.832, P<.001; thus, gender had a significant influence on eating habits of the school children.Gender significantly affects the eating habits of Nigerian school children. Thus, gender is an important factor to be considered when aiming to improve the eating habits of Nigerian school children.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere24961
JournalMedicine (United States)
Volume100
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Apr 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • eating habits
  • gender
  • school children

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Gender effect on eating habits of Nigerian school children'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this