Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. 3101 Park
Center Drive, 10th Floor, Alexandria, VA 22302-1594.
Telephone: (703) 305-7600. Website: http://www.cnpp
.usda.gov.
WEBSITES
N.V. Perricone, M.D. http://www.nvperriconemd.com.
(April 13, 2007).Ken R. WellsPersonality type diet
Definition
The personality type diet is a diet developed by
Dr. Robert Kushner that helps dieters identify what
kind of eating, exercising, and coping habits they have
to help dieters achieve weight loss and better health
through personalized incremental change.Origins
The personality type diet was developed by Dr.
Robert Kushner. Dr. Kushner is a practicing physi-
cian who specializes in nutrition and weight loss. He
developed the diet to meet the needs of the average
dieter with a busy schedule. He used the information
and insights he gained during many years of helping
people lose weight. Dr. Kushner designed the diet to
be a long term aid in the fight againstobesitythat was
personalized enough to be meet each dieters unique
needs.
Dr. Kushner attended medical school at the Uni-
versity of Illinois Medical School in Chicago, Illinois.
During this time he became interested in obesity and
weight loss. After completing his medical degree in
1979 he completed his residency at Northwestern
Memorial Hospital and specialized in internal medi-
cine. He also completed a fellowship in clinical nutri-
tion at the University of Chicago in 1984. He is the
Medical director of the Northwestern Memorial Hos-
pital Wellness Institute and the president of the Amer-
ican Board of Nutrition Physician Specialists. He
authored the American Medical Association’s ‘‘Obe-
sity Treatment Guide for Physicians,’’ as well as
numerous scientific papers on obesity, weight loss,
and nutrition. Dr. Kushner is also the head of the
expert support team for Diet.com. His book ‘‘The
Personality Type Diet’’ was written with his wife
Nancy Kushner who is a registered nurse.Description
The personality type diet is designed to be useful
to normal people who are trying to lose weight, but
have very busy schedules and do not have the time or
energy to devote many hours each day to weight loss.
Before beginning the diet there is a 66 question ques-
tionnaire that the dieter takes to determine what type
of dieter, exerciser, and coper the dieter is. The ques-
tions address eating and exercise habits, as well as
stress and coping mechanisms. Dr. Kushner believes
that identifying the way that a person eats, exercises,
and deals with problems is the first step to successful
weight loss and healthy living. He provides informa-
tion directed at particular types, as well as general
information and tips. The seven types of eaters are:Unguided grazer
Unguided grazers tends to not think about food
very much. They will eat at various times during the
day but rarely stop to have a meal or think about what
they are eating. Usually eating is an afterthought to a
very busy schedule, so foods tend to be whatever is
around and easily available. Often this person eats
while doing other things, so portion size can vary
drastically depending on what is available or what
size package is sold.Nighttime nibbler
Nighttime nibblers eat more than half of their
food intake at dinner or even later. Instead of eating
regularly throughout the day they might not eat at all
until dinner time. Sometimes the nighttime nibblerPersonality type dietPersonality Trait
Unguided grazer Tends to not think about food very much
Night-time nibbler Eats more than half of food intake at dinner
or even later
Convenient consumer May eat regular meals, but rarely cooks
Fruitless feaster May eat regular meals, but tends to leave
out two important food groups: fruits and
vegetables
Mindless muncher Snacks constantly throughout the day,
usually in addition to eating a full breakfast,
lunch, and dinner
Hearty portioner May eat three meals a day, but tends to eat
far too much at any given sitting
Deprived snacker Constantly on a diet(Illustration by GGS Information Services/Thomson Gale.)Personality type diet