Personality traits and body mass index: Modifiers and mechanisms

Abstract

Objective To identify how demographic factors (sex, age, ethnicity) modify the association between personality traits and body mass index (BMI) and to test the extent that diet and physical activity account for the personality-BMI relations. Design Cross-sectional study with a diverse sample (N=5,150, 50% female, 19% African American, 15% Hispanic). Participants completed a measure of the five major dimensions of personality and reported on their physical activity, diet and food intake behavior, and height and weight. Main Outcome Measures BMI and obesity (BMI≥30) Results High Neuroticism was associated with higher BMI and risk for obesity, whereas Conscientiousness and, to a lesser extent, Extraversion and Openness were protective. These associations were generally stronger among women and older participants; there was less evidence for ethnicity as a moderator. Personality had similar relations with the behavioral factors, and physical activity, diet, and regular meal rhythms accounted for approximately 50% of the association between Neuroticism and Conscientiousness and BMI. Conclusion This study supports the links between personality traits and BMI and suggests that physical activity, more than diet, is a key factor in these associations.

The Effectiveness of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet Intervention in Persons with Arterial Hypertension and Obesity: A Key Role of the Patients’ Personality Profile

“…However, it needs to be emphasised that no statistically significant correlation between neuroticism and conscientiousness on the one hand and effective weight loss and change of DASH values on the other hand was found, which is contrary to the findings of other authors [6, 10, 11, 13-15]. Nevertheless, the positive changes of DASH values and weight loss were observed.…”

“…It should be noted that a combination of a high level of conscientiousness and a low level of neuroticism has been widely discussed in the literature. Meta-analyses showed that these 2 traits played a key role in effectiveness of treatment for weight loss [6, 10, 11, 13-15]. The study carried out among 235 persons with obesity demonstrated that the intensity of neuroticism was associated with the more frequent occurrence of inappropriate eating behaviours.…”

“…Nevertheless, they suggest a positive correlation between personality traits and eating behaviours. However, to a large extent, they concern obese persons [10, 11, 13, 14]. The role of high conscientiousness as a protective factor against excessive weight gain as well as the role of high neuroticism as a factor encouraging obesity were also documented quite well [10, 11, 14, 15].…”

“…However, there is no unambiguous data concerning the role of the remaining personality traits described in the Big Five personality traits (i.e., agreeableness, openness to experience and extraversion) in the context of maintaining appropriate body weight and thus in the treatment aiming at weight loss [6, 10, 17-20]. …”

Associations of Personality with Body Mass Index and Obesity in a Large Late Midlife Community Sample

“…Among these traits, the most studied personality dimension in health research is neuroticism, and there is robust evidence of associations between this personality dimension and a wide range of both mental and physical health problems including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes [10]. In addition, several studies have observed elevated scores of neuroticism in individuals with obesity from the general population [8,11,12], suggesting a positive association between neuroticism and BMI. In addition, both obese and underweight individuals tend to report more psychiatric symptoms than normal-weight individuals [13], indicating that these weight groups may score higher on neuroticism [10].…”