Personality traits in overweight and obese women: associations with BMI and eating behaviors.
This study aimed at assessing the extent to which personality traits are related to BMI and eating behaviors in overweight and obese women (N=154; mean body mass index (BMI) of 30.5+/-3.0 kg/m(2)). The NEO Five-Factor Inventory was used to capture the five dimensions of personality (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness). Anthropometric measurements (weight, height and BMI) were performed and eating behaviors (cognitive dietary restraint, disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger) were measured by the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Regressional analyses showed that only conscientiousness was positively related to BMI. A higher level of neuroticism was identified as a significant predictor of higher scores for cognitive dietary restraint, disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger. Conscientiousness was also found to be a positive determinant of cognitive dietary restraint and a higher level of agreeableness predicted a lower score of susceptibility to hunger. Results also underline the presence of other psychological factors, i.e. dysphoria and body esteem, involved in the associations between personality traits and some eating behaviours. These findings suggest that particular dimensions of personality may contribute, either directly or through their association with other psychological factors, to a better understanding of weight and eating behaviors in overweight and obese women.
Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Laval University, Québec, Canada. veronique.provencher@inaf.ulaval.ca
Véronique
V
Provencher
Catherine
C
Bégin
Marie-Pierre
MP
Gagnon-Girouard
Angelo
A
Tremblay
Sonia
S
Boivin
Simone
S
Lemieux
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept