title: Gender-related Differences in Food Craving and Obesity.
abstract: Food craving is often defined as a strong desire to eat. Much work has shown that it consistently and prospectively predicts eating and weight-related outcomes, contributing to the growing obesity epidemic. Although there are clear gender differences in the prevalence and health consequences of obesity, relatively little recent work has investigated gender differences in craving, or any sex-hormone-based differences as they relate to phases of the menstrual cycle. Here, we propose that gender-related differences in food craving contribute to gender-related differences in obesity. Drawing on findings in the addiction literature, we highlight ways to incorporate gender-based differences in food craving into treatment approaches, potentially improving the efficacy of obesity and weight loss treatment. Overall, this review aims to emphasize the importance of investigating gender differences in food craving, with a view towards informing the development of more effective treatments for obesity and weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Yale University.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hallam
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Yale University.
authors.forename: Rebecca G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Boswell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Elise E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: DeVito
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Yale University; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Hedy
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kober
mesh_terms: D066249:Craving / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones
keywords: craving; gender; menstrual cycle; obesity; sex hormones