Using data from a longitudinal study of aging that spanned more than 50 years, we examined the associations between a comprehensive measure of FFM personality traits and multiple anthropometric measures. In both the continuous and categorical classification of BMI, and three additional measures of adiposity, participants high on Neuroticism or Extraversion weighed more, whereas conscientious participants were leaner. High Neuroticism and low Conscientiousness were also associated with more weight fluctuations and, across the adult lifespan, low Agreeableness and the emotional aspects of trait impulsivity were associated with greater increases in BMI. BMI was primarily unrelated to changes in personality traits.
