Different Personality Types, Different Eating Habits

(Continued)

Characteristics: It is not uncommon for Tragic-Romantic Diners to develop dysfunctional and sometimes even destructive eating patterns. The spectrum may range from morbid obesity to life-threatening anorexia. Many suffer from addiction to alcohol, nicotine or drugs. Although most Tragic-Romantic Diners are keenly aware of their situation, a deep sense of helplessness can keep them from making positive changes.

Example: Claudia is a 22-year-old student of accounting but would rather be an artist or fashion designer. She feels depressed “most of the time,” especially from loneliness. Being overweight, she is convinced that she is altogether unattractive. Except for classes and running errands, Claudia rarely leaves her apartment. She has not had a date in a long time and has not made any close friends in college. Her studies don’t interest her very much and she cannot see herself in a career as an accountant. Since her father insisted on her being able to get a “real” job, she felt that she had no choice in the matter. He never supported her artistic aspirations. She feels trapped.

Taking care of herself has been difficult for Claudia ever since she left her parents’ home. Living alone in a small apartment has not motivated her enough to develop a workable routine. Besides going to school and doing her homework, she has no commitments or responsibilities. Claudia never prepares a sit-down meal or makes something special for herself. She often cannot remember what or when she last ate. The refrigerator overflows with half-eaten snack foods. Claudia admits that she frequently dreams of just taking off and leaving everything behind.

Characteristics: People sometimes become Reformed Diners during or in the aftermath of a health crisis. Coming face to face with their vulnerability, they want their normal lives back as quickly as possible. If that requires radical lifestyle changes, so be it. Once they discover the benefits and positive results become evident, they are hooked. With the zest of a “born-again” believer, they follow strict diets, rigorous work-out schedules, read every publication on the subject and generously dish out free advice to everyone who is willing to listen.

Example: Donald is 47 years old. Recently he took the job of Vice President for Human Resources at a pharmaceutical company. Before that he was a hard-charging marketing executive in the wine industry. While recovering from a heart attack, he lost 36 pounds in four months. He took it as a wake-up call and changed his lifestyle dramatically. He gave up drinking, even wine, worked out twice a day and calculated his daily calorie and fat intake religiously.

Donald also found a new mission in life. As head of personnel, he feels responsible for the health of his work force. He started a company-sponsored fitness program that includes weight management tips for overweight employees. He frequently participates in week-end seminars and workshops on wellness and healthy living. His goal is to produce the most health-conscious work environment possible.

We all share a vital interest in our health and well-being. We want to feel good, look physically attractive, be able to work, play and have fun. Yet most of us are uncertain about what it takes to live a “healthy” life. The standards for fitness and beauty set by the media and health industries often amount to little more than fashion statements. Even the medical profession offers us confusing and sometimes contradictory messages. What is the right kind of food? Are we natural meat eaters or should we embrace vegetarianism? Which is the best diet type – low-fat, low carbohydrate or high protein? Should we drink alcohol? How much exercise should we get?

One would think that we have been on this planet long enough to master the most basic survival skills, such as feeding ourselves. Not so! Most humans eat for reasons far more complex than hunger. As children, we are taught to consume food at certain times or to clean our plates, whether we feel hungry or not. Many people reach for food to feed their emotions rather than their bodies. Some adapt their eating habits to their social environments. Others eat to cope with loneliness or stress. Some literally forget about their nutritional needs because they are too involved with their projects. Food can be a tranquilizer or a stimulant, a comforter or a thrill, a source of joy or destruction.

In order to become a Healthy Diner, it is essential to understand the close relationship between one’s eating habits and one’s personality. While “health” is a relative and temporary state, the need to be healthy is not. Regardless of age, physical condition, medical history or genetic make-up, the quest for well-being is universal. This includes far more than the absence of disease or pain. Whether someone tries to make lifestyle changes to get more energy, lose weight, prolong youth, cope with disabilities or overcome a chronic illness, the goal is always the same: Being well.

Becoming a Healthy Diner involves more than revision and (if necessary) modification of one’s eating habits. Having the right relationship to food is only one aspect of good health. Later I will discuss how taking care of our intellectual, emotional and social needs is just as important as our physical well-being. We all share these facets of human nature, and yet in each of us they present themselves differently. By acknowledging these differences, we have a better chance to find our own path to a healthy life.

How do different eating habits develop?
Just as we have different attitudes towards work, play or social life, our relationship to food is highly individual. Obviously, the urge to eat is primarily triggered in response to hunger. At times, however, we do have food without being hungry, or we keep eating when we are already full. Perhaps we have a meal only because it’s lunch time. We may overindulge when we celebrate, or we may take to the munchies when we get bored. We may have a drink when we are stressed out and want to calm our nerves. In any case, the intake of food and drink serves different purposes. And none of this is coincidental. We all act according to our personalities. Let’s have a closer look at how the different Diner types develop.

Accidental Diners are gluttons for pleasure. They are always happy to try something new and exciting. They can be the life of the party or pleasant fellow-travelers. Constantly in search of stimulation, they prefer to keep their options open rather than settle too quickly for second best. On the downside, they can suffer from lack of direction and purpose. Life is a constant flow that carries them along. Restless as they are, they seek to avoid discontent and boredom. In order to escape negative emotions, Accidental Diners have an insatiable appetite for instant gratification. For them, there is never too much of a good thing. To satisfy their constant need for distraction and comfort, they get easily seduced by a culture that says “more is better.” Soon they can lose track of what and how much they consume.

Food choices are made spontaneously, based on pleasure, fun and easy access. Because Accidental Diners get easily bored with laborious cooking efforts, they prefer fast food, take-out meals and restaurants.

When Accidental Diners face health problems as a result of their overindulgent lifestyle, they tend to look for quick fixes. Many commercial diet plans cater to this attitude by promising instantaneous solutions that require little effort or patience. Since Accidental Diners respond to spontaneous impulses rather than long-term strategies, serious dietary regimens often fail, especially when they are perceived as limiting and depriving.

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