Can your personality control your weight? that is the claim of neuroscientist Angelina Sutin , as reported by Rose Pastore in the November 2011 edition of Psychologist Today, in her feature, "Weighty Personalities."
In the feature Pastore writes that different personalities such as impulsiveness, which makes it hard to plan ahead and resists temptation; antagonism, which causes high levels of the hormone cortisol which is associated with weight gain are big culprits in weight control problems says Angelina Putin who has studied this personality traits and weight problems for over 50 years.
According to this feature two other traits: neuroticism, low-conscientiousness, and depression are often the causes of wild fluctuations in weight and when you consider these it all seems quite likely -- take the definition of neurosis for example: "a mental disorder producing hysteria, anxiety, depression or obsessive behaviour,"
Unless victims of these traits can find a way to change these traits they could be a "recipe for a lifetime of weight fluctuations" as Pastore writes.
There are things that impulsive, antagonistic type people can do, however, says Angelina Putin. "Weight -loss programs should be designed around personality types,....Buying healthful groceries, having set meal times, and planning ahead help with weight management," she says.
And remember, if you really want to you can change your personality, either through the help of reputable self-help programs or professional help.
For more information see the article by Rose Pastore in the November/December 2011 Psychology Today.
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