If women are prone to "eat like a bird" when men are watching, men may be similarly programmed to "eat like a horse" when women are around, suggests a small US study by behavioural scientists.

Researchers observed diners at an all-you-can-eat Italian buffet and found men who dined with at least one woman at the table ate 93 per cent more pizza than their peers who had only male dining companions.

The tendency to overeat extended to healthier fare as well – men ate 86 per cent more salad in the company of women.

It's possible that the men might be unconsciously signaling their biological fitness through excessive eating, essentially showing off to appear attractive to a potential mate, Kniffin said. By engaging in risky or unhealthful behaviour during the meal, the men signal that they are so healthy and fit that they can endure self-inflicted pain on a temporary basis, at least.

bbabo.Net