Emotional Nutrition - How To Overcome It?

Author: Dean Rouseberg Time for reading: ~2 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

Emotional Nutrition - How To Overcome It?

CHAPTERS (Table Of Contents)

Situations And Emotions That Cause Us To Eat More Often Fall Into 4 Main Categories.

Boredom, loneliness, anger, anxiety, frustration, stress, etc., are the most common causes of overeating and unwanted weight gain.

Emotional eating is associated with consuming large amounts of food - usually so-called junk foods, in response to certain feelings, not because of hunger. Experts estimate that 75% of overeating cases are due to emotions.

Many believe that food can bring them comfort and reassurance, at least in the short term. As a result, people often turn to food to "cure" emotional problems.

This way of eating becomes a habit that prevents us from acquiring skills that will help us eliminate emotional stress.

Depression, boredom, loneliness, chronic anger, anxiety, frustration, stress, interpersonal problems, and low self-esteem are the most common causes of overeating and unwanted weight gain.

Identifying the cause of this behavior is one way to find more appropriate techniques for managing our problems, as well as to take control of our diet and weight gain.

Situations and emotions that cause us to eat more often fall into 4 main categories.

Let's see who they are ...

1. Social

Eating in the company of other people. Excessive eating can be indirectly encouraged by others; because others eat or because of feelings of inadequacy around other people.

2. Emotional

Eating in response to boredom, stress, fatigue, tension, depression, anger, anxiety or loneliness as a way to "fill the gap."

3. Situational

We eat because of the opportunity. Eating can be related to certain activities such as watching TV, attending a movie or sporting event, and more.

4. Physiological

Eating in response to physical signs. For example, increased hunger due to skipping meals or meals to relieve headaches or other pain.

To determine the pattern of overeating, experts recommend keeping a diary - when and what products you consume, as well as what stressors, thoughts, or emotions you identify while eating.

Discovering the stimuli is the first step, but this in itself is not able to change eating behavior and break habits.

Creating dietary alternatives is the second step. When you feel the urge to eat something provoked by a certain stimulus, try one of the following activities:

read a good book or magazine, or listen to music;
go for a walk or run in the park;
take a bath with a lot of foam;
do deep breathing exercises;
play cards or a board game;
talk to a friend;
do housework;
wash the car;
write a letter;
or any other pleasant or necessary activities until the need for excess nutrition passes.

Emotional Nutrition - How To Overcome It?

CHAPTERS (Table Of Contents)

Situations and emotions that cause us to eat more often fall into 4 main categories.

Related Articles