Research
Adherence
Sensitivity to reward and impulsivity are positively correlated with obesity and metabolic syndrome, particularly in specific demographic subgroups.
If you are highly sensitive to rewards, standard diet advice may fail because your brain prioritizes immediate gratification. Use environmental controls to reduce exposure to high-reward foods and practice delaying gratification to counteract impulsivity.
ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Sutin et al. (58:IIIb) observed a significant correlation between neuroticism and, in particular, the subscales of impulsivity and hostility, on the one hand, and the metabolic syndrome, the criterion for which, among others, is abdominal obesity, on the other hand.
Why this rating
Based on cross-sectional and clinical studies with varying validity; some studies found no association.
Source
Personality traits and obesity: a systematic review
Gabriele Gerlach et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2014
DOI 10.1111/obr.12235
systematic_reviewCited 288×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- High neuroticism and impulsivity are risk factors for obesity, while high conscientiousness and self-control act as protective factors against weight gain.Moderate
- Conscientiousness and self-control are protective factors against weight gain by regulating internal urges and providing control over impulsive behavior.Moderate
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