This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Terracciano, A. Articles by Costa, P. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Terracciano, A. Articles by Costa, P. T., Jr Related Collections Personality Overweight or Obesity

Facets of Personality Linked to Underweight and Overweight

From the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services (A.T., A.R.S., R.R.M., L.F., D.S., P.T.C.), Baltimore, Maryland; and Istituto di Neurogenetica e Neurofarmacologia (B.D., M.U.), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Cagliari, Italy.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Antonio Terracciano, Laboratory of Personality and Cognition, National Institute on Aging, NIH, DHHS, 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21224. E-mail: Terraccianoa{at}mail.nih.gov

Objective: Personality traits underlie maladaptive behaviors, and cognitive and emotional disturbances that contribute to major preventable causes of global disease burden. This study examines detailed personality profiles of underweight, normal, and overweight individuals to provide insights into the causes and treatments of abnormal weight.

Methods: More than half of the population from four towns in Sardinia, Italy (n = 5693; age = 14–94 years; mean ± standard deviation = 43 ± 17 years) were assessed on multiple anthropometric measures and 30 facets that comprehensively cover the five major dimensions of personality, using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory.

Results: High Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness were associated with being underweight and obese, respectively. High Impulsiveness (specifically eating-behavior items) and low Order were associated with body mass index categories of overweight and obese, and with measures of abdominal adiposity (waist and hip circumference). Those scoring in the top 10% of Impulsiveness were about 4 kg heavier than those in the bottom 10%, an effect independent and larger than the FTO genetic variant. Prospective analyses confirmed that Impulsiveness and Order were significant predictors of general and central measures of adiposity assessed 3 years later.

Conclusions: Overweight and obese individuals have difficulty resisting cravings and lack methodical and organized behaviors that might influence diet and weight control. Although individuals’ traits have limited impact on the current obesogenic epidemic, personality traits can improve clinical assessment, suggest points of intervention, and help tailor prevention and treatment approaches.

Key Words: personality • obesity • BMI • central adiposity • waist/hip ratio • Five-Factor Model

Abbreviations: BMI = body mass index; FFM = Five-Factor Model; N = Neuroticism; E = Extraversion; O = Openness to Experience; A = Agreeableness; C = Conscientiousness; NEO-PI-R = Revised NEO Personality Inventory; OR = odds ratio; SD = standard deviation.