Emotional eating is a common problem that affects many people, but not everyone is aware that they are engaging in this type of eating behavior. Emotional eating occurs when people turn to food for comfort, stress relief, or to soothe negative emotions like boredom, sadness, or anger, instead of using healthier coping mechanisms. Over time, this can lead to weight gain, poor body image, and decreased self-esteem.
Here are some signs that you may be an emotional eater and what you can do to stop this unhealthy pattern.
- Eating in response to emotional triggers
- One of the most common signs of emotional eating is eating in response to emotional triggers. This can include reaching for food when you’re feeling sad, stressed, bored, or anxious. If you find yourself repeatedly turning to food for comfort during emotional times, it’s a clear indication that you’re an emotional eater.
- Eating when not hungry
- Another sign of emotional eating is eating when you’re not hungry. Emotional eaters often eat even when they’re not physically hungry, and often eat large amounts of food in a short period of time. If you find yourself reaching for food when you’re not hungry, it could be a sign that you’re using food to cope with emotional triggers.
- Binge eating
- Binge eating is another common sign of emotional eating. Binge eating is characterized by eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, often in response to emotional triggers. If you find yourself regularly binge eating, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional to address the underlying emotional triggers.
- Guilt and shame after eating
- Emotional eaters often experience feelings of guilt and shame after eating, especially if they’ve binge eaten or if they feel like they’ve consumed too much food. If you regularly experience guilt or shame after eating, it’s a clear sign that your relationship with food is unhealthy and may need to be addressed.
- Hiding food or eating in secret
- Finally, emotional eaters often hide food or eat in secret, as they’re ashamed of their eating habits and don’t want others to know. If you find yourself hiding food or eating in secret, it’s a clear sign that you’re an emotional eater and need to seek help to address this behavior.
It’s important to understand that emotional eating is a complex issue that often stems from deeper emotional and psychological issues. If you suspect that you’re an emotional eater, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional to address the underlying emotional triggers and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Additionally, focusing on developing a healthy relationship with food and exercise, and finding healthy ways to cope with emotional triggers can help to break the cycle of emotional eating.
References:
- National Eating Disorders Association. (2021). Emotional Eating. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/emotional-eating
- Mental Health America. (2021). Emotional Eating. https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/emotional-eating
- American Psychological Association. (2021). Coping with Emotional Eating. https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/emotional-eating
- Mayo Clinic. (2021). Emotional Eating: How to Recognize and Stop Emotional Eating. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/emotional-eating/art-20047792