What is emotional eating?

Do you ever find yourself mindlessly reaching for snacks or maybe some chocolate when you’re not even hungry? You know you’re not hungry and can definitely do without the extra calories, but you’ll still be eating. It can be lack of contrl but it can also be what is known as “Emotional Eating”.

Emotional eating is most commonly defined as “overeating to soothe negative emotions”. Hence we can say it is essentially a coping strategy to suppress negative or anxious thoughts and emotions which can include anger, fear, stress and even boredom.

Emotional distress in career relationships, family or health might lead to impulsive and binge eating which eventually gives rise to a vicious cycle of overeating, weight gain and then ultimately feeling terrible about one’s body.