More men than women check calorie count
Men have overtaken women when it comes to counting calories and paying closer attention to what they eat, a UAE survey suggests.
A YouGov survey of more than 1,000 UAE residents found men were more likely to dine out than women and more likely to Google a menu’s calorie content.
The most frequent diners in the UAE are married men without children, of whom 72 per cent eat out regularly, the research suggested.
Overall, 65 per cent of residents said they ate out at least once a week and 28 per cent of male respondents admitted to checking calories, compared to 19 per cent of women.
“We are seeing some positive steps here in the UAE, with a high percentage of diners showing a keen interest in monitoring their food,” said Kerry McLaren, head of YouGov Omnibus, which compiled the research.
“Balance in your diet is key and with fast food being so heavily advertised in this part of the world, it is positive to see that although respondents don’t quite want to step away from dining in quick service restaurants, they want to be aware of the calories they are consuming. It definitely shows steps towards making healthier choices.”
A little under two thirds of respondents told the survey they dined at fast food or casual dining restaurants.
Young people aged between 18 and 24 were most likely to eat out (71 per cent), with singles (69 per cent) and men (66 per cent) also high on the list.
A recent survey by Oman Insurance suggested that up to 62 per cent of people living in the UAE were overweight.
A health-risk assessment of more than 3,000 people found men were more likely to be
A recent survey by Oman Insurance suggested that up to 62 per cent of people living in the UAE were overweight.
overweight than women, with Pakistani residents the most overweight.
Last year, Dubai launched an initiative urging restaurants to display calorie counts for every dish served. Many restaurants signed up, but not all.
Forty-three per cent of the YouGov survey respondents said they would welcome menus with calorie counts.
About 25 per cent called for a separate low-calorie section in menus, without showing the count.