Most of us have engaged in emotional eating at some point. Whether it's hitting up the drive through after a stressful day at work, indulging in cake and ice cream after an argument with a loved one, or ordering pizza when you're feeling down, it's common to use food to combat negative emotions. Emotional eating, however, can have negative consequences. Here, we'll explore the definition of emotional eating, how you can identify your emotional eating triggers, and some strategies you can use to stay in control and stick to the nutrition plan that helps you feel your best, even when life gets tough.
What is emotional eating?
According to the Mayo Clinic, "Emotional eating is eating as a way to suppress or soothe negative emotions, such as stress, anger, fear, boredom, sadness, and loneliness. Major life events, or more commonly, the hassles of daily life can trigger negative emotions that lead to emotional eating and disrupt your weight-loss efforts."
Whether you're working to lose weight or simply have found that emotional eating is stopping you from stealing your best, it can be tough to get out of the habit of using food to soothe tough emotions. Food can serve to distract you from negative emotions or thoughts, or you may find that you crave the feel-good chemicals your brain creates when you enjoy sugary treats when you're going through a tough time. Using food as a coping strategy for tough emotions, however, can actually make you feel worse over time. Developing healthy coping strategies instead of using food for comfort can help you work through negative emotions in a way that’s conducive to your well-being.
Identifying triggers of emotional eating
Understanding the emotions or events that trigger your emotional eating can help you develop strategies needed to maintain healthy habits, no matter what life throws your way.
There are a wide variety of factors that can trigger emotional eating, including:
- Anxiety: Many people find that when they feel nervous or anxious, foods high in sugar, salt, or fat can provide temporary relief. If you're someone who eats to quell anxiety, you might notice that you reach for foods high in salt, sugar, or fat without thinking in difficult times.
- Boredom: Eating foods—especially foods that are hyperpalatable—can be an exciting distraction from boredom. If you emotionally eat due to boredom, you might find yourself staring into the fridge, looking for something appealing, even though you aren't actually hungry.
- Depression: Some people lose their appetites when they experience depression, while others experience an increase in appetite. Research shows that depression-influenced eating choices tend to be energy (calorie) dense, and more palatable than less calorically dense options.
- Fear: In some cases, emotional eating can cause a sense of fear, which results in further emotional eating. If you emotionally eat, experts state that you may begin to fear there's a larger root problem, creating additional stress that can leave you feeling out of control.
- Grief: Many people experience struggles with their weight and appetite when they're going through the grieving process. Over time, this can develop into an eating disorder. If you're experiencing episodes of binge eating (eating large quantities of food in a short period of time) during a time of grief, it can be helpful to talk with a grief counselor who can provide you with the support you need to move forward.
- Loneliness: Many people who live alone (and even those who live with others but feel lonely in their situations or relationships) use food to reduce feelings of loneliness, especially at the end of the day. A 2014 study showed that people who are lonely are more likely to experience binge eating disorder (a condition in which individuals binge eat regularly, while feeling out of control).
- Stress: When the body is stressed, you'll release cortisol, a hormone that can increase your appetite, make you store more body fat, and cause you to gain weight. This is especially common during periods of prolonged stress.
Mindful eating practices to stay present during meals
Thankfully, taking steps to stay present while you're eating can help to reduce emotional eating.
Some strategies that can help to reduce binge eating include:
- Pause for a moment before eating. Take the time to ask yourself whether you're dealing with an uncomfortable emotion or if you're truly hungry. This may not stop all instances of emotional eating, but it can help you to get in the habit of understanding why you're eating.
- Try an alternative. It can be tough to figure out how to deal with tough emotions, but trying an alternative method of stress management can help. Taking a few moments to go for a walk, try a three-minute meditation, or call a friend to decompress may help to stop the urge to emotionally eat. Incorporating regular stress management strategies (like attending yoga class or therapy) can reduce the urge to emotionally eat over time.
- Consider progress over perfection. In times of stress, you may feel like you have no choice but to eat sugar, salty snacks, or other foods that you use to quell tough emotions. Breaking free from these patterns can be difficult, and may take some time. Instead of getting down on yourself when emotional eating happens, try to learn from the experience so that in the future, you're able to choose stress management techniques that are more in line with your health goals.
Creating a balanced meal plan to prevent overeating
Whether you're dealing with occasional emotional eating, you're experiencing binge eating disorder, or you're simply looking for ways to eat that can help you better manage your stress, creating a balanced meal plan can help.
In times of anxiety or other negative emotions, it can be tempting to reach for foods that make you feel better. When you have a clear-cut plan for what you're going to eat throughout the day, you may be more likely to stick to eating in ways that are conducive to your overall wellness.
Keeping a food journal can be a smart way to understand your eating patterns and begin to develop a plan that makes sense for your needs. Noting what you eat—and the emotions that you're dealing with while you're eating—can make it easier to understand where you're going off track.
If you're struggling with emotional eating, keep these tips in mind when developing a balanced nutrition plan:
- Aim for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
- Pay attention to the foods or beverages that increase negative emotions that may make you more prone to emotional eating. Alcohol, sugar, and caffeine may make it harder to effectively manage your stress levels.
- If it works for you, planning a weekly menu can help to provide the nutrients that you need, allowing more consistent energy levels and lowering the likelihood that you'll eat outside of your plan.
- Stay hydrated. Aim to drink at least half of your bodyweight in ounces of water each day.
If you're having trouble getting emotional eating under control, it's a good idea to talk with your primary care provider, a therapist or counselor, or a registered dietitian to get the support that you need. There's no shame in asking for help, and you may find that doing so is the first step toward understanding that you don't have to try to deal with stressful emotions on your own.
Building a support system to stay accountable
There's strength in numbers, and if you struggle with emotional eating, you're not alone. Talking to friends and family who deal with similar issues, joining a support group (such as Overeaters Anonymous), or talking to your primary care provider about a referral for support can all help you get the community you need to change your habits, one choice at a time.
Using Evidation and connected apps to track progress and habits
Making changes to your eating patterns can be tough, and you don't have to try to figure it out on your own. In addition to developing a meal plan, creating a support system, and understanding the emotions that lead you to emotionally eat, downloading the Evidation app can provide you with the insights you need to create new habits and feel your best.
If you're ready to get started on the path to becoming your happiest, healthiest self, we're here to help. Click here to download Evidation today and learn more about how we can provide you with the insights you need to support your journey to optimal wellness.
