Gender Differences in Body Satisfaction Perception: The Role of Nutritional Habits, Psychological Traits, and Physical Activity in a Strength-Training Population

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine gender disparities in body satisfaction perception, emphasizing the influence of nutritional habits, psychometric assessments, levels of physical activity, and health-related metrics. Employing a sample of 605 strength-trained participants (385 males and 224 females), aged between 20 and 35 years, and regularly engaged in strength training, we conducted a thorough analysis using Google Forms. We evaluated variables including age, anthropometric data, resistance training frequency, food consumption patterns, and psychological profiles. Our findings indicate significant gender-based differences in body satisfaction perception. Females tend to overestimate their muscular size and express heightened concern regarding gluteal shape, while males exhibit a more realistic self-perception, primarily focused on hip width. Dietary patterns also display gender-specific tendencies; females prefer healthier options like vegetables, whereas males consume more milk, fermented products, and carbohydrates. Hydration practices diverge as well, with females showing higher water intake in contrast to males’ preference for alcoholic and carbonated beverages. Psychologically, males demonstrate greater extroversion, while females exhibit higher conscientiousness, openness, and a tendency toward negative thoughts and anxiety. Regarding physical activity, females engage in training sessions with greater volume compared to males. This study highlights the intricate interplay of social, cultural, and personal factors shaping gender-specific perceptions of body satisfaction and their subsequent impact on health and lifestyle choices. These insights pave the way for future specialized interventions and research, underscoring the importance of understanding gender-specific nuances to promote healthy body satisfaction and self-perception.

Advances in Understanding the Interplay between Dietary Practices, Body Composition, and Sports Performance in Athletes

“…While the market offers a vast array of products, only a few are backed by solid scientific evidence [ 33 , 34 ]. Beyond these widespread practices among amateur and professional athletes, evidence suggests that the role of a sports nutritionist is indispensable for both performance and recovery, necessitating control over what, when, and how much to eat, including which supplements and fluids to consume, not just from a performance perspective but also for the athlete’s health [ 35 ].…”

The relationship between gender differences in dietary habits, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease

“…Eating behavior is influenced by a myriad of factors that go beyond the basic metabolic needs of the individual, such as food type preferences ( Grzymislawska et al, 2020 ); attitudes and beliefs about food type ( Modlinska et al, 2020 ; Rosenfeld and Tomiyama, 2021 ); religious practices ( Gilbert and Khokhar, 2008 ); sociocultural factors ( Jimenez-Morcillo and Clemente-Suárez, 2023 ); body image perceptions ( Boraita et al, 2020 ; Jimenez-Morcillo and Clemente-Suárez, 2023 ), and other external influences such as social media ( Jacob and Panwar, 2023 ). In the case of females especially, there appears to be a relationship between quality of life and body satisfaction, and a higher propensity toward disordered eating ( Boraita et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Variations in psychological personality traits may be a further source of dietary choices, habits, and preferences, and potentially add another layer of depth to gender differences in nutrition. In this vein, an interesting study by Jimenez-Morcillo and Clemente-Suárez (2023) examined, among other things, physical activity, gender differences in dietary patterns along with psychological traits. From their sample of 605 strength-training participants, they found that, similar to other studies, females prefer healthier options such as vegetables and consume more water, whereas males prefer milk, fermented products, carbohydrates and alcoholic and carbonated beverages.…”

“…From their sample of 605 strength-training participants, they found that, similar to other studies, females prefer healthier options such as vegetables and consume more water, whereas males prefer milk, fermented products, carbohydrates and alcoholic and carbonated beverages. Further, they found that males scored higher for extraversion, and females demonstrated higher conscientiousness, openness, and more negative thoughts and anxiety ( Jimenez-Morcillo and Clemente-Suárez, 2023 ). These findings provide further insight into gender differences and lifestyle choices.…”

“…Lifestyle choices, including diet, are an integral part of brain health. Overall, the literature consistently suggests that women tend to choose healthier foods ( Gil et al, 2022 ; Jimenez-Morcillo and Clemente-Suárez, 2023 ; Feraco et al, 2024 ) yet suffer disproportionately from dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form ( Derreberry and Holroyd, 2019 ), and remain underrepresented in the published literature ( Ferretti et al, 2021 ). Of note, sex is one of the strongest risk factors for developing AD following age, as evidenced by the fact that two thirds of those clinically diagnosed with AD are women worldwide ( Ferretti et al, 2021 ; Subramaniapillai et al, 2021 ), yet sex and gender have not yet been incorporated into precision medicine approaches ( Nebel et al, 2018 ).…”