Personality traits and food consumption: an overview of recent research

Michele C. Machado-Oliveira , John B. Nezlek , Heber Rodrigues , Anderson S. Sant'Ana

Abstract

This paper summarizes research on relationships between personality and food choice and food consumption. Personality is one of many factors that can influence food choice and consumption and whether people make healthy choices. We used the Five Factor Model of personality as an organizing theme to summarize the research and found that in addition to personality, daily habits, the environments in which people live, and their cultural backgrounds influence how they eat, which in turn influences their quality of life or overall health, including the developing chronic disease.