What Your Weight Says About Your Personality

Blisstree Editors


If you're trying to lose weight, now would be a very good time for some personality adjustments. According to a new study, those of us with impulsive traits are most likely to be overweight. In fact, people who scored the highest in hasty behaviors weighed an average of 22 pounds more than their cautious counterparts.

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Researchers from the National Institute on Aging looked at data from nearly 2,000 people over the course of 50 years to determine how personality traits are associated with weight and body mass index. Their conclusions, published in theJournal of Personality and Social Psychology, found greater weight gain among impulsive people, those who enjoy taking risks and those who are cynical, competitive and aggressive.

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.

A revelation that might just make sense if you're looking at a compulsive eater, but let's not confuse the issue. Not all impulsive, aggressive, risk-takers are destined to become overweight. I happen to know many people who I would consider impulsive-myself included-and none of us are at unhealthy weights. In fact, most of us are healthy, physically fit individuals. We just happen to channel our impulsive behaviors towards athletic endeavors, not food.

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Case in point: A few years ago, a friend of mine completed an awesome bike workout and felt so good afterward that he went home and immediately signed up for an Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run). No massive amounts of training under his belt, no previous experience in triathlons and no idea what he was getting himself into. He just did it without thinking. Endorphin high or impulsive behavior? Probably both. Turns out, he became quite good at Ironman races and has since gone on to complete them in the top of his age group. Had he taken the time to think this through before signing up for the first race, he probably would have done what so many of us do-find every excuse in the book not to do it. Sometimes thinking is overrated. We can all be our own worse supporters-always finding reasons that we're not good enough to do something, not fit enough, not strong enough, not young enough, not experienced enough, whatever.

Ultimately, being impulsive has to do with two things: taking safe risks, but also knowing when to apply the brakes.

Photo: Dove Self-Esteem Fund

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