title: An examination of sex differences in relation to the eating habits and nutrient intakes of university students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine sex differences in eating habits and nutrient intakes and explore whether eating habits mediate the effects of sex on nutrient intakes and whether sex moderates the effects of eating habits on nutrient intakes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey of eating habits and food-intake frequency in a convenience sample of college students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male students (n = 172) consumed a higher energy content from fat, a larger amount of fiber, and more fruits and vegetables, and engaged less often in various healthful eating habits (eg, reading food labels, having breakfast) than female students (n = 316). Sex predicted the 3 dietary nutrient intakes partially through eating habits. Interactions between sex and eating habits were nonsignificant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results reinforce that university students' nutrient intakes are less than ideal. Women and men may have different needs for nutritional improvement. However, the effects of health promotion concerning eating habits may be similarly effective between the sexes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. ben.li@cityu.edu.hk
authors.forename: Kin-Kit
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rebecca Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Concepcion
authors.forename: Hyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cardinal
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ebbeck
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Woekel
authors.forename: R Tucker
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Readdy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004435:Eating; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult