Emotional eating isn’t just about food….it’s about feelings. The late-night ice cream binge or the bottomless bag of chips during a stressful day isn’t always driven by physical hunger. It’s often a response to emotional discomfort, a way to soothe, distract, or even punish us. But why do we turn to food when our hearts, not our stomachs, are aching?
Emotional eating is the act of consuming food in response to feelings rather than hunger. These foods are usually high in sugar, fat, or carbs. Feelings can range from stress and sadness to boredom and loneliness. Unlike physical hunger, which builds gradually and is satisfied by any food, emotional hunger strikes suddenly and craves specific comfort foods.
There arecommon emotional triggers and psychological patterns that lead to emotional eating. Stress and cortisol overload are big contributors. When we’re stressed, our bodies release cortisol, a hormone that increases appetite and cravings for fatty, sugary foods. It’s a survival mechanism. However, in modern life, it often leads to overeating. Comfort and nostalgia with certain foods are tied to memories. Examples could be mac and cheese from childhood, or cookies baked by a loved one. Eating them can recreate a sense of safety or warmth.
Emotional eating can be a distraction from pain. It can act as a numbing agent. Instead of facing anxiety, grief, or anger, we distract ourselves by eating food. It’s a temporary escape from discomfort. Emotional eating can be a reward and self-soothing. Many people use food as a reward. Ever said to yourself, “I’ve had a hard day, I deserve this”? It becomes a way to self-soothe when other coping mechanisms aren’t available or feel too hard. Plus, boredom and lack of stimulation can stimulate emotional eating. When life feels dull or unstimulating, eating provides a quick hit of pleasure. It fills the void.
Emotional eating often leads to guilt, shame, and regret, which can trigger more emotional distress and more eating. This creates a vicious cycle which involves the following:
- Emotional trigger (stress, sadness, etc.)
- Eating for comfort
- Temporary relief
- Guilt or shame
- Emotional distress returns
- Repeat
Understanding the “why” is the first step toward change. There are suggestions for strategies to make change. Practice mindful eating. Pay attention to hunger cues, emotional states, and the sensory experience of eating. Emotional awareness helps. Journal or talk about your feelings instead of suppressing them. There are also alternative coping tools such as walking, meditating, calling a friend, or engaging in hobbies when emotions run high. Self-compassion goes a long way too. Replace judgment with kindness. Emotional eating doesn’t make you weak, rather, it makes you human.
Emotional eating isn’t a failure of willpower. Something deeper is going on beneath the surface and a signal is going off. Listening to that signal. Then one can begin to heal not just their relationship with food, but with themselves.
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Dr. Megan Johnson McCullough owns a fitness studio in Oceanside CA called Every BODY’s Fit. She has a Doctorate in Health and Human Performance, M.A. in Physical Education & Health Science, and she’s an NASM Master Trainer & Instructor. She’s also a professional natural bodybuilder, fitness model, Wellness Coach, and AFAA Group Exercise Instructor. She has 6 books on Amazon too,.