Its Not ME Making Me Fat...It's My Personality!!

In theory, losing weight should be easy. Take in less calories than you expel. It’s a simple mathematical equation. So why is it so difficult? It could be that it is embedded deep into the human psyche.

A growing body of research is finding interesting new connections between personality traits and habits that can lead to obesity. It is connected with the same parts of the brain that control emotions and stress response. In addition, the research has found early life experiences can set the stage for overeating years later.

The link between emotions, food and weight control seem to begin at a very early age. Toddlers who have a low quality emotional relationship with their mothers are twice as likely to be obese at age 15 as those who have closer bonds, according to a study of 977 children published in the journal Pediatrics this month.

Registered dietitians, nutritionists, and cognitive-behavior therapists have long warned against eating for emotional reasons and urged people who overeat to identify eating triggers. Untangling emotions about food can seem daunting, but some therapists say it can be very effective in the long run.

So what sort of personality traits seem to set people up for weight gain? Lets take a look:

The Night Owl

Unless they have the luxury of sleeping late, night owls are very often sleep deprived. Being sleep deprived decreases the levels of leptin, the hormone that signals fullness, and increases the levels of ghrelin, the hormone that fuels appetite, especially high for carbohydrate and high calorie foods. Even short-term sleep deprivation can make individuals process sugar as if they were diabetic. Night owls also tend to skip, or sleep through, breakfast, and snack far into the night. That can set up the stage for “night-eating syndrome”, which is when people consume a significant portion of their daily caloric intake after dinner.

The Fix? Start by foregoing caffeine after noon, keeping lights, TV and other electronics on low in the evening and scheduling appointments early in the day. Or declare the kitchen off limits after 9pm!

The Stress JunkiePeople who thrive on high-stress situations have more than drive running through their veins. Its mostly adrenaline and cortisol. Those stress hormones supply quick bursts of energy in fight-or-flight situations, but when the alarm is ongoing, they can cause health problems, including obesity. Cortisol stimulates a brain chemical called neuropeptide Y, which boosts carbohydrate cravings. It also makes the body churn out excess insulin and accumulate fat, particularly in the belly. People who are chronically stressed often use food for energy and comfort and rationalize that they’ve earned it.

The Fix? One of the best ways to burn excess cortisol is exercise. And almost anything that pampers, distracts, or relaxes you can serve as a reward.

The Mindless Multitasker

People who habitually work, read, drive, watch TV, or do anything while eating often consume more than they should. Anything that takes the focus off the food makes it more likely for people to overeat without knowing. Research shows that few people overeat because they are hungry, rather most people overeat because of a myriad of other subconscious cues, from family and friends to plates and packages.

The Fix? Keep track of everything you eat for several days, then make a commitment to only eat sitting down, and giving food your full attention. Eat slowly and put your fork down between bites. You will likely eat less without ever trying to diet.

The Giver

People who always put other people’s needs ahead of their own often become emotionally depleted and seek solace in eating. Food works as a solace because it’s close, it doesn’t require burdening others, and it signals comfort and love. But because it doesn’t really fill the emotional void that givers have, they keep eating more and more.  

The Fix? Set reasonable limits on your time and energy. Identify your frustrated yearnings and find new ways to take care of yourself. Venting unpleasant emotions (in a journal or mirror) will diffuse them faster than food.

The Perfectionist

Like Givers, most people who drive themselves to be perfect use food to relieve the pressure. And many set themselves up for failure with impossible weight and fitness goals. Bariatric surgeons say they see a high correlation between perfectionism and obesity; experts in eating disorders say perfectionism is often at the root of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulemia Nervosa. Many perfectionists also engage in “all-or-nothing” thinking that leads them to discouragement easily when dieting and seek solace in food again.

The Fix? Set realistic goals, and strive for progress, not perfectionism. Remember that many people are loved just as much for their flaws as for their best attributes.

Before you automatically blame your personality for packing on those extra pounds for you, take a look at the fixes provided above.  You can still be fit and healthy, even with a few personality quirks!