Fluctuations in Body Weight Over Time Caused by Personality

People with personality traits of high neuroticism and low conscientiousness are likely to go through cycles of gaining and losing weight throughout their lives, says a new study.

Researchers have found that impulsivity was the strongest predictor of who would be overweight.

Participants who scored in the top 10 percent on impulsivity weighed an average of 22 lbs. more than those in the bottom 10 percent, according to the study.

"Individuals with this constellation of traits tend to give in to temptation and lack the discipline to stay on track amid difficulties or frustration," the researchers wrote.

"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," added the researchers.

"To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to examine whether personality is associated with fluctuations in weight over time," they wrote.

"Interestingly, our pattern of associations fits nicely with the characteristics of these traits," they added.he study has been published in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Source: ANI