A LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOTHER’S PERSONALITY TRAIT, EATING BEHAVIOR AND FOOD INTAKES, AND MATERNAL WEIGHT GAIN DURING PREGNANCY AND WEIGHT OF INFANTS AT BIRTH

Background and Aim: This study aimed to explore the associations between food intake, personality traits and eating behavior, and maternal weight gain during the second half of pregnancy as well as the weight of infants at birthMethods: A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to determine food intake. Eating behaviors were assessed using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and the NEO personality inventory was used to assess personality in 360 pregnant subjects.Results: High neuroticism was associated with high consumption of high energitic food and less consumption of vegetables. Oppenness was associated with consuming more vegetables and dairy products. Conscientiousness was associated with restrained eating behavior, which leads to more consumption of fruits and vegetables. High conscientiousness was also associated with infants’ low birth weight. Extraversion was positively associated with emotional, restrained and external eating behaviors and intake of vegetables. Agreeableness was linked with high consumption of vegetables. Higher neuroticism was associated with lower weight gainConclusion: Personality traits are associated with health outcomes. This could partly be explained by lifestyle related factors including eating behaviors and food intakes. Therefore, personality traits can improve clinical assessment, suggest points of intervention, and help tailored prevention and treatment approaches

Keywords:

Personality traits , Eating behavior , Food intake , Gestational weight gain , Birth weight