If your overeating is caused by your emotions, you seem so out of control as your body gains more weight. You’ll feel like you simply can’t solve your eating disorder. Your self-esteem and self-confidence may have eroded to the point where you’re withdrawing from those you love and you don’t feel like going out to have fun.
Triggers for certain foods can cause emotional overeating. Chronic overeating is an addiction just like the ones we’re used to hearing about – drugs, alcohol and even sex.
You have to find the root cause of an addiction before you can do anything to solve it. A few reasons why emotional overeating may become an addiction are:
Heredity. Your ancestors may be the cause of your addiction. If you can prove that you have ancestors who have the same eating disorder as you do, then genetics is the cause.
Childhood behaviour patterns. You might have been told by mom and dad to finish everything that’s on your plate when you were younger. They may have also shown love by feeding you fast food and lots of sugar. That’s why up to now you are used to finishing everything in front of you, and loving yourself by eating what you want.
Daily stress. This is actually one of the deadliest causes for overeating. You can’t have zero stress, but you can reduce the stress in your life. For example, you can just wake up earlier if you tend to overeat at lunchtime because you skip breakfast by waking up way too late.
Uncontrollable cravings. An incomplete diet usually causes you to crave for some foods. An unbalanced diet leads to insufficient nutrients in your body – nutrients which will prevent cravings. You could also feel all lethargic and won’t exercise, which can lead to a drop in your endorphin level, the feel-good biochemical.
Emotional overeating means you use food to try to fill something within you. Researching and discovering what that void is can be the key to solving your emotional overeating problems. You may be able to easily find the root cause yourself, but don’t be surprised if you need help from your health care provider or a therapist who specializes in weight and eating issues.
Jumpstart your career with our detailed homestaging information and courses.