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Perceptions of women related to food choice

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Abstract

Male and female subjects (predominately white) provided impression ratings of body shape, personality traits, and total caloric consumption for a female target based on her preference for a low fat or high fat diet. Results showed that meal type significantly affected impression ratings: the target who preferred low fat foods was viewed more favorably than the one who preferred high fat fare. Compared with male subjects, female subjects perceived the target who preferred a high fat diet to be significantly less conscientious. Males were significantly more accurate than females in their caloric estimations of targets' total daily consumption. The results will be discussed in terms of the social pressure on women to restrict not only their weight to acceptable levels, but their food consumption as well.

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Mooney, K.M., DeTore, J. & Malloy, K.A. Perceptions of women related to food choice. Sex Roles 31, 433–442 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01544199

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