Gender differences in the relation between food cravings and mood in an adult community: Results from the Fleurbaix Laventie Ville Sante study

Objective: The aim of this survey was to study food cravings and its indulg ence in community adults (538 women and 506 men) and to compare nutritional parameters, weight preoccupations, and weight history between cravers and noncravers. Method: Cravers experienced a strong urge to eat specific foods more than once a week during the past 6 months. Food intake was estimated by a 3-day food record. Results: 28% of women and 13% of men were food crav ers. Cravers, especially women, were more frequently concerned about their weight than noncravers. Energy intake during snacks was higher in cravers. Less than 40% of cravers reported being hungry when they experienced cravin gs. Women cravers indulged their cravings as often as men. They reported mo re frequently negative feelings, whereas men reported more frequently posit ive feelings. Discussion: This study shows that food craving episodes are s trongly associated with mood but in a different way in women and men. (C) 2 001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.