…and this is the personality trait that keeps you thin…
People with impulsive personalities have the highest chance of being overweight, research carried out over 50 years finds.
Those who score in the top 10 percent for impulsivity are, on average, 22 lbs. heavier than those in the bottom 10 percent.
People who are high in neuroticism and low in conscientiousness are more likely to go through cycles of gaining and losing weight.
The researchers write:
“Individuals with this constellation of traits tend to give in to temptation and lack the discipline to stay on track amid difficulties or frustration.
To maintain a healthy weight, it is typically necessary to have a healthy diet and a sustained program of physical activity, both of which require commitment and restraint.
Such control may be difficult for highly impulsive individuals.”
The conclusions come from data on 1,988 people followed for 50 years.
The results showed that people generally got heavier with age, but those who gained the most were impulsive, enjoyed taking risks and were competitive and aggressive.
Dr Angelina R. Sutin, who led the study, said:
“Previous research has found that impulsive individuals are prone to binge eating and alcohol consumption.
These behavioral patterns may contribute to weight gain over time.”
People who stayed the thinnest were likely to be high on conscientiousness, a personality trait linked to being careful and precise.
Dr Sutin said:
“The pathway from personality traits to weight gain is complex and probably includes physiological mechanisms, in addition to behavioral ones.
We hope that by more clearly identifying the association between personality and obesity, more tailored treatments will be developed.
For example, lifestyle and exercise interventions that are done in a group setting may be more effective for extroverts than for introverts.”
The study was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Sutin et al., 2011).
