There Are 3 Types of Eating Personalities—Which One Are You?

When trying to lose weight, the two things that most of us zero in on are diet and exercise. (Makes sense, right?) But there’s one other factor that you need to account for, and it’s a biggie: Your personality. 

Yup, experts are starting to realize that who you are as an individual can determine a whole lot when it comes to your success (or lack thereof) with certain weight-loss programs. “You are who you are, and that’s not gonna change,” says Jen Widerstrom, Biggest Loser trainer and author of Diet Right For Your Personality Type. “What good is information [about how to lose weight] if it isn’t based on your personality?”

Widerstrom isn’t the only one who believes that personality plays a big role in how we approach healthy eating. When it comes to food, most of us are either moderators or abstainers, says Happier at Home author Gretchen Rubin. Moderators do better when they avoid strict rules and are allowed to indulge, well, moderately. (Piece of chocolate after dinner, anyone?) But abstainers are the opposite: For them, indulging tends to open up the floodgates, and one piece of chocolate after dinner turns into the whole bar—followed by a bag of chips. So they fare better by steering clear of temptation altogether.  

In short, being forced to swear off sugar or carbs will probably backfire for a moderator. And if you’re an abstainer, trying to follow a weight-loss plan that includes small treats every day might make it tough for you to stay on track. Makes total sense, right? (Learn how bone broth can help you lose weight with Women’s Health’s Bone Broth Diet.)

That’s why it’s so important to eat for your personality type, and figure out a weight-loss plan that honors who you are and doesn’t fight against it. Here are three of the most common eating personalities and the best ways for them to lose weight. Which one are you?