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Personality disorders and body weight

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  • Maclean, Johanna Catherine
  • Xu, Haiyong
  • French, Michael T.
  • Ettner, Susan L.

Abstract

We examine the impact of Axis II personality disorders (PDs) on body weight. PDs are psychiatric conditions that develop early in life from a mixture of genetics and environment, are persistent, and lead to substantial dysfunction for the affected individual. The defining characteristics of PDs conceptually link them with body weight, but the direction of the relationship likely varies across PD type. To investigate these links, we analyze data from Wave II of the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions. We measure body weight with the body mass index (BMI) and a dichotomous indicator for obesity (BMI≥30). We find that women with PDs have significantly higher BMI and are more likely to be obese than otherwise similar women. We find few statistically significant or economically meaningful effects for men. Paranoid, schizotypal, and avoidant PDs demonstrate the strongest adverse impacts on women's body weight while dependent PD may be protective against elevated body weight among men. Findings from unconditional quantile regressions demonstrate a positive gradient between PDs and BMI in that the effects are greater for higher BMI respondents.

Suggested Citation

  • Maclean, Johanna Catherine & Xu, Haiyong & French, Michael T. & Ettner, Susan L., 2014. "Personality disorders and body weight," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 12(C), pages 153-171.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:12:y:2014:i:c:p:153-171
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2013.10.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert H. Pietrzak & Julie A. Wagner & Nancy M. Petry, 2007. "DSM-IV Personality Disorders and Coronary Heart Disease in Older Adults: Results From the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 62(5), pages 295-299.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bellmann, Lutz & Hübler, Olaf, 2019. "Personal Attitudes, Job Characteristics and Health," IZA Discussion Papers 12597, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Cawley, John & Maclean, Johanna Catherine & Sikora Kessler, Asia, 2017. "Reporting error in weight and height among older adults: Implications for estimating healthcare costs," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 9(C), pages 122-144.
    3. McInerney, Melissa & Meiselbach, Mark K., 2020. "Distributional Effects of Recent Health Insurance Expansions on Weight-Related Outcomes," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    4. Hübler, Olaf, 2017. "Health and weight – gender-specific linkages under heterogeneity, interdependence and resilience factors," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 96-111.
    5. Maclean, Johanna Catherine & French, Michael T., 2014. "Personality disorders, alcohol use, and alcohol misuse," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 286-300.

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