Women find it harder to lose weight than men as a result of their eating habits.
A survey of 2,200 people aged between 30 and 45 revealed that females face difficulty shedding the pounds due to an "anarchic approach to food" that sees them eat more frequently and snack regularly in the afternoon.
Women also have a preference for sweet flavours, while men favour salty and bitter tastes.
Dr. Mauro Lombardo, a researcher at San Raffaele Roma Open University in Italy, said: "Women have a much more anarchic approach to food.
"They tend to eat a lot more between meals, skip meals and be messy.
"I think these differences can also explain why low-calorie diets are often more effective for men than for women."