The Eating Habits of Men

I just read about a recent study that made me crack up. Apparently men are even predictable in their eating habits. A new study tracked the eating habits of 740 men for 16 years and recorded changes in their nutrition and heart disease risk. According to MSNBC, men fall into one of five groups of eating patterns: Empty Calories, Lower Variety, Higher Starch, Average Male and Transition to Heart Healthy.

Empty Calorie Group: These men tended to prefer high-calorie desserts and refined grains. They also had the highest consumption of calories and saturated fat. Researchers of the study advise men who fit into this group to start choosing lower-fat meats and dairy and reducing the amount of saturated fat in the diet.

Lower Variety Group: This group comprises about 1/3 of all men. They ate the least number of veggies, fruits and whole grains of all five groups. They also had the lowest consumption of fiber and nutrients. This group doesn’t sound too healthy to me :(

Higher Starch: Like the 2nd group, these men ate fewer fruits and veggies but also consume a lot of refined grains. “By the end of the study, their calorie consumption had increased to be the highest of all groups,” according to Karen Collins, R.D.

Average Male Group: This was the worst group out of all five! These men had the highest blood pressure and cholesterol levels due to their low activity levels and high incidence of overweight. Additionally, their saturated fat consumption exceeded current recommendations.

Transition to Heart Healthy: If I were a guy (which I am definitely not), I would want to be part of this group. These men ate the most fruits, veggies, whole grains and fish. Their risk for heart disease was still too high for good health but it was the lowest of the five groups.

Which group would you fit into?