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.
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.
Authors: Salim Yusuf; Steven Hawken; Stephanie Ounpuu; Leonelo Bautista; Maria Grazia Franzosi; Patrick Commerford; Chim C Lang; Zvonko Rumboldt; Churchill L Onen; Liu Lisheng; Supachai Tanomsup; Paul Wangai; Fahad Razak; Arya M Sharma; Sonia S Anand Journal: Lancet Date: 2005-11-05 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Cynthia L Ogden; Margaret D Carroll; Lester R Curtin; Margaret A McDowell; Carolyn J Tabak; Katherine M Flegal Journal: JAMA Date: 2006-04-05 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Angelo Scuteri; Serena Sanna; Wei-Min Chen; Manuela Uda; Giuseppe Albai; James Strait; Samer Najjar; Ramaiah Nagaraja; Marco Orrú; Gianluca Usala; Mariano Dei; Sandra Lai; Andrea Maschio; Fabio Busonero; Antonella Mulas; Georg B Ehret; Ashley A Fink; Alan B Weder; Richard S Cooper; Pilar Galan; Aravinda Chakravarti; David Schlessinger; Antonio Cao; Edward Lakatta; Gonçalo R Abecasis Journal: PLoS Genet Date: 2007-07 Impact factor: 5.917
Authors: A Terracciano; B Martin; D Ansari; T Tanaka; L Ferrucci; S Maudsley; M P Mattson; P T Costa Journal: Genes Brain Behav Date: 2010-03-22 Impact factor: 3.449
Authors: Antonio Terracciano; Monia Lobina; Maria Grazia Piras; Antonella Mulas; Alessandra Cannas; Osorio Meirelles; Angelina R Sutin; Alan B Zonderman; Manuela Uda; Laura Crisponi; David Schlessinger Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2011-09-23 Impact factor: 4.312