Industry experts accept that there is a link between emotions and overeating. But defining the exact relationship between the two phenomena isn’t quite as easy as anyone would like. Overeating patterns and the exact cause and effect of overeating/emotions creates a definite cycle that is increasing the spread of obesity at never before seen rates. Factors have to be considered at an individual level, but they also have to be considered as applicable to family units as well as social groups. This makes coming up with a solid definition even more difficult.
Everyone understands the basic concept that is often described by the term “comfort foods.” The overeating result is more easily defined than the cause: emotions. Emotions that often result in overeating range widely from fear to anger to depression to anxiety. Overeating (either temporary or chronic) offers a feeling of relief from the negative feelings. It is used as a temporary relief from the pain of the overeater.
Positive feelings can be obtained from eating/overeating. The act of eating and/or the preparation of foods provides a distraction from the negative emotions. And the act of eating is often viewed as a reward providing gratification to the overeater. It also can provide general comfort related to the familiarity of the foods at hand.
Tips for those who may suspect that they are overeaters (or who have found themselves accused of being overeaters) start with one simple step. Define the problem. Are you an overeater or not? To find out keep a record of your eating. Discover when you’re eating, why you’re eating and what you’re eating. Did you eat when you were hungry?
If you didn’t eat when you were hungry…why were you eating? Was it after a certain situation occurred? Was it at a certain time of day? Was it in a specific location? By defining the issue behind the overeating the cycle can be broken before it escalates from a problem to a health issue. Obesity is directly linked to increased risks for many common illnesses and diseases.
First define the problem. Then work towards altering the habits that keep you within your negative overeating cycle. This will enable you to step out of your negative cycle before it results in obesity (which is typical of chronic and/or frequent overeating). Accessing available all natural methods of drastic, rapid weight loss enables those who have successfully identified their overeating cycle to not only stop gaining weight, but to lose the weight they’ve already gained.
Amelia Handley majored in exercise science in college with a minor in Nutrition. Yet she still found herself veering from diet to diet in order to control her weight. With HCG Diet Direct she’s found a program that allows her to combine her desire to control her own body weight with her education and not feel off balance.