Gender differences in eating behavior of children 11-14 years old

This article analyzes the possible existence of gender differences in attitudes and risk eating behaviour in children between 11 and 14 years old. A sample of 819 Spanish children was assessed with the Health-Related Information, Attitudes and Behaviour Questionnaire (CIACS-2) of Ballester and Gil (in press). The items were related to their eating behaviour/attitudes and their physical activity. The results show the existence of important gender differences in the eating behaviour of children. Specifically, these results indicate that girls are more careless with breakfast than boys. Girls avoid the food that, in their view, will make them fat and vomit more than boys after a big meal. In fact, girls control more their weight than boys, give greater importance to their weight and appearance and usually feel very worried about their own figure.