Personality traits predicting weight loss outcome in obese patients

A personality inventory, the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP), was administered to a group of 28 severely obese patients before treatment with jaw fixation. Several items significantly predicted incapacity to maintain the achieved weight loss 1 year after treatment: anxiety, monotony avoidance, suspiciousness and a low degree of socialization. These personality traits constitute a syndrome of ego weakness or impulsivity which warrants further study.