The more he eats, the more he likes you, according to researchers.

A recent study discovered that men will eat more food when they dine with their female counterparts, as a way of showing off, than when they are with other men.

The study was conducted over a two-week period while researchers observed 150 adults eating lunch at an all-you-can-eat Italian buffet.

Men who were coupled up with a female, packed their plates with pizza and left the buffet line with their bowls overflowing with salad, eating 93 percent more slices and 86 percent more greens than men who ate with just other men

MAN VS. WOMEN: EATING HABITS Men are comforted by protein more than carbs Women prefer to swap that meat for two sides of baked potatoes, and then save some room to share dessert. Men rely less on fad diets, but are more likely to skip meals and cut out whole food groups to lose weight. Guys also get fired up about weight loss if they are in a competition with some buddies to see who can ditch those pounds the fastest. Men can go all day without eating while women think of food all day. Men have a harder time canceling their membership in the Clean Plate Club. Women are more likely to request doggy bags. Men will eat cold pizza straight out of the box while women feel a hot slice is worth the wait. Advertisement

Researchers from Cornell University, who collaborated with Cornell’s Food and Brand Lab for the study, took note of the number of pizza slices and how many bowls of salad each subject consumed.

Men who were coupled up with a female, packed their plates with pizza and left the buffet line with their bowls overflowing with salad, eating 93 percent more slices and 86 percent more greens than men who ate with just other men.

‘These findings suggest that men tend to overeat to show off – you can also see this tendency in eating competitions which almost always have mostly male participants,’ explains lead author Kevin Kniffin, PhD, of Cornell University in a recent press release.

When the diners got up to leave, the researchers stepped in to ask if they would complete a short survey indicating their level of fullness after eating, and their feelings of hurriedness and comfort while eating.

The results showed women didn’t change the amount they ate when they dined with either gender.

They did however, report feeling they overate and felt rush through the meal.

According to the data collected during their observations, the researchers reported none of this was actually true.

By overconsuming food men unconsciously may be signaling their biological fitness, a paradoxical tactic in this case given that ‘overeating constantly is going to produce a body shape research shows tends to be viewed as unattractive,’ Kniffin explained.

However, these findings fit with other examples of self-handicap behaviour, where in this case men are showing off their fitness through excessive eating.

A recent study discovered that men will eat more food when they dine with their female counterparts, as a way of showing off, than when they are with other men. The study was conducted over a two-week period while researchers observed 150 adults eating lunch at an all-you-can-eat Italian buffet

This risky or unhealthy behavior is a way for men to let their female companion know that they can tolerate changes, even self-inflicted ones.

While this study suggests men overate, it’s the women who reported a sense of overeating.

Kiffiin said there is a lesson to take away from the study.

‘These findings are clear that people should calm down when eating with members of the opposite sex.’