Emotional Eating - Why Does it Happen?
Anita (name changed) has lost about 300 kilos of weight at different
periods of her life, only to pile it all back again! She has tried
dozens of fad diets, pills and shakes. Most have not worked and the few
that have are not of much use because she just can't seem to control
the eating frenzy when it overtakes her.
There are thousands of men and women out there, who, like Anita, feel
powerless in the face of food. They know they should not be eating the
way they are, but they cannot stop it. Why? Well, the first reason is
that they do not have full understanding of why emotional eating
happens. Only when you know the root cause underlying a problem can you
solve it effectively.
Why does emotional eating happen?
Emotional eating happens when your emotions are tangled with your food.
You eat to fill the emptiness within your heart. And you keep on eating
until that emptiness disappears. So, the way to stop emotional eating
is to understand the void within you and find ways to fill it. Some of
the most common reasons that contribute to emotional eating are:
Unresolved emotions: Many people have a number of uncomfortable emotions bottled up inside. It could be childhood trauma or a bitter adult experience like a divorce or the lack of a love life. When people cannot confront their emotions, they divert their attention from anger, loneliness, pain, resentment, fear or desperation by tucking in.
Social eating: In the last fifty years or so, food has become an important part of social celebrations. Whether it is a social gathering, a birthday, a promotional event or even a funeral, we feel the pressure to distribute food and eat what is offered. Unfortunately, people with eating problems turn these events into an excuse to overeat.
Boredom: You may not believe it, but many people overeat simply because of the lack of anything better to do! It's Friday night and you have nothing to do, all you friends are away...so, what do you do? Go to the nearby restaurant and eat without a care!
PMS: In women who are approaching menopause, hormonal changes may trigger overwhelming emotions that may ultimately lead to overeating.
Emotional overeating is more about your emotions that about what you eat. To get rid of it, you must first get to the root of the problem. Understand yourself. Ask questions and do not shrink from some amount of hard talk. It's either that, or a life chained to unhealthy food choices!
About the Author: John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. He now runs a weight loss forum and publishes a diet and fitness newsletter. John helps people to better deal with emotional eating on this site: EmotionalEatingSolution.com.