Having this type of personality could be making you FAT – but there is a way you can change it
YOU are what you eat - or so the saying goes.
But it turns out that it might be more than a saying.
Your food choices and weight may be also be affected by something far deeper — your personality.
New found a link between having an impulsive personality and a high body mass index (BMI).
The researchers defined impulsivity as a tendency to reaction without regard to consequence - think eating a burger just because you see one.
The study tested more than 500,000 people and those who rated high on impulsiveness had a harder time resisting temptations, and were therefore more likely to overeat.
While there are many personality types associated with impulsive-like behaviours, other studies show that high neuroticism and low conscientiousness are associated with weight gain and aspects of impulsivity, including lack of self-discipline.
But on the other hand, those who are self-awareness have more self-control, make better food choices and are less likely to comfort eat when feeling stressed.
Behavioural scientist Dr Sinead Golley, who has co-authored the study, said: "If you’re frustrated by unsuccessful weight loss attempts, having a better understanding of your personal triggers and diet patterns can be the crucial piece of the puzzle."
By now you are probably thinking you don't stand a chance if you have an impulsive personality - surely changing your personality can't be easy.
Luckily, there are several steps you can take to help manage your personality when all you want to do is eat.
1. Get a new habit
While we may not be able to unlearn bad habits, we can certainly learn new ones to replace the unwanted ones.
If you find that too many stressful days in the office or a tiff with your loved one means a remedy of hot chips or a bottle of wine to cheer yourself up, consider introducing coping mechanisms other than food.
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Activities such as a phone call with a friend or a leisurely walk in the sunshine can go a long way.
Whatever it is, do something other than eat to cope with the emotion and your eating habits will take a turn for the better.
2. Know your triggers
For many, overeating stems from anxiety.
If you find yourself consuming an entire bag of potato chips or block of chocolate, it’s possible that you’re trying to divert yourself from feeling anxious.
The problem is that the mindless munching lead to weight gain, which in turn can exacerbate the depression cycle.
In either case, it is important to realise that this represents a dependence on external factors for emotional satisfaction and shows a need to wean yourself off this dependence.
3. Be kind to yourself
How many times have you criticised yourself in the last 24 hours?
It's important to "tune in" and recognise your patterns of thinking in relation to weight and identify the unhelpful patterns which are maintaining your current weight problems.
For example, think less about how self-destructive you feel when you go "off the rails" and more about how your next eating choice will be a healthy one.
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4. Accept your flaws
Accept your body the way that it is now (flaws and all), and spend more time considering how your body feels rather than how it appears.
With a higher level of self-acceptance, you are more likely to eat healthily, intuitively or mindfully.
Kathleen Alleaume is a nutritionist and exercise scientist and founder of
This story originally appeared on and has been republished with permission.
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