The physiological consequences to this type of lifestyle do not end with obesity. Individuals high on Neuroticism, in particular the impulsiveness facet, and low on Conscientiousness have elevated triglycerides (Sutin, Terracciano, Deiana, Uda et al., 2010), hypertension (Goodwin, Cox, & Clara, 2006; Goodwin & Friedman, 2006), and clinically-elevated levels of inflammation (Sutin, Terracciano, Deiana, Naitza et al., 2010), even after controlling for differences in adiposity. Abnormal weight may be one mechanism that partially mediates the relation between personality and these health outcomes. For example, individuals high in Neuroticism or low in Conscientiousness weigh more, which, in turn, contributes to their chronic inflammation (Sutin, Terracciano, Deiana, Naitza et al., 2010).
