The relationship between personality traits and BMI categories.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Medical Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Body Mass Index (BMI) is a key indicator of weight status.
• Understanding the relationship between personality traits and BMI is crucial for public health initiatives.
• Previous research has explored links between personality and weight, but findings are not always consistent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in personality traits among individuals with average weight, overweight, and obesity.
• To utilize the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised-Abbreviated Form (EPQR-A) for personality assessment.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 429 participants (279 female, 150 male) aged 18-65 years.
• Participants were categorized into normal weight, overweight, and obese groups based on Turkish Endocrinology and Metabolism Society (TEMD) BMI standards.
• Personality traits were assessed using the EPQR-A and socio-demographic forms.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant difference was observed in average psychoticism scores across BMI categories (p<0.001).
• Psychoticism scores exhibited a V-shaped distribution relative to BMI categories.
• No significant differences were found in average neuroticism and extraversion scores based on BMI categories (p=0.094 and p=0.157, respectively).

Conclusions:

• Psychoticism scores significantly vary according to Body Mass Index (BMI) categories.
• The observed V-shaped distribution of psychoticism scores in relation to BMI warrants further investigation into the psychological underpinnings of weight management.