Gorini Stefania, Camajani Elisabetta, Cava Edda, Feraco Alessandra, Armani Andrea, Amoah Isaac, Filardi Tiziana, Wu Xinyan, Strollo Rocky, Caprio Massimiliano, Padua Elvira, Lombardo Mauro
Department for the Promotion of Human Science and Quality of Life, San Raffaele Open University, Via di Val Cannuta, 247, Rome, 00166, Italy.
Laboratory of Cardiovascular Endocrinology, San Raffaele Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Via di Val Cannuta, 247, Rome, 00166, Italy.
J Transl Med. 2025 Mar 12;23(1):312. doi: 10.1186/s12967-025-06311-x.
Gender differences in dietary habits, physical activity and body composition are key determinants of health and disease risk. Although these differences are well documented, their variation across age groups remains poorly explored. This study examines gender-specific patterns in eating behaviours, sport preferences and body composition metrics, with the aim of providing evidence for tailored public health interventions.
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2,276 participants (1,349 females and 927 males) aged 18-75 years. Recruitment combined an online survey and clinical assessments. Body composition was evaluated with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and eating habits were investigated with detailed weekly food diaries. Gender differences between five age groups were statistically analysed using chi-square and t-tests (p ≤ 0.05). The study protocol was approved by the Lazio Area 5 Ethics Committee.
Significant differences in body composition were observed between genders: men had a higher lean mass and basal metabolic rate, whereas women showed a higher fat mass in all age groups. Eating habits varied significantly: men preferred salty and protein-rich foods, consumed alcohol more frequently and showed a higher prevalence of meal skipping and uncontrolled eating behaviour. Women showed greater meal regularity, a preference for sweet tastes and a higher likelihood of eating alone in the older age groups. Sports participation differs markedly in the age group 30-39 years, in which men were predominantly involved in team sports, while women favoured strength training and skill activities.
This study highlights the strong gender disparities in dietary and lifestyle behaviour, which evolve with age. These findings underline that tailored public health strategies, responding to gender-specific requirements, are needed to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce inequalities. Future studies should use longitudinal designs to explore causal relationships.
The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06661330; registered 22 October 2024, retrospectively). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06661330 .
饮食习惯、身体活动和身体成分方面的性别差异是健康和疾病风险的关键决定因素。尽管这些差异已有充分记录，但它们在不同年龄组中的变化仍未得到充分研究。本研究旨在探讨饮食行为、运动偏好和身体成分指标中的性别特异性模式，以为量身定制的公共卫生干预措施提供依据。
对2276名年龄在18至75岁之间的参与者（1349名女性和927名男性）进行了一项横断面研究。招募工作结合了在线调查和临床评估。通过生物电阻抗分析（BIA）评估身体成分，并通过详细的每周饮食日记调查饮食习惯。使用卡方检验和t检验对五个年龄组之间的性别差异进行统计学分析（p≤0.05）。该研究方案已获得拉齐奥地区5伦理委员会的批准。
观察到性别之间在身体成分上存在显著差异：在所有年龄组中，男性的瘦体重和基础代谢率较高，而女性的脂肪量较高。饮食习惯差异显著：男性更喜欢咸味和富含蛋白质的食物，饮酒更频繁，并且漏餐和无节制饮食行为的患病率较高。在年龄较大的组中，女性饮食规律更强，更喜欢甜食，且独自进食的可能性更高。在30至39岁年龄组中，体育参与情况存在显著差异，其中男性主要参与团队运动，而女性则倾向于力量训练和技能活动。
本研究强调了饮食和生活方式行为中存在的强烈性别差异，这些差异会随着年龄的增长而变化。这些发现强调，需要制定符合性别特定需求的量身定制的公共卫生策略，以促进更健康的生活方式并减少不平等。未来的研究应采用纵向设计来探索因果关系。
该研究已在ClinicalTrials.gov上注册（NCT06661330；于2024年10月22日追溯注册）。可在以下网址获取：https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06661330 。
