The Link Between Comfort Food, Eating Disorder, And Emotional Eating

The Link Between Comfort Food, Eating Disorder, And Emotional Eating

Ever since the world began, food has been a means of nourishment for our bodies. Let’s face it we need calories and nutrients to live. But in today’s culture, food has evolved into more than just fuel for our body. Food has become our response to our emotions, problems or situations – hence the new terms we hear – eating disorder; emotional eating; comfort food, etc.

Many believe an eating disorder is actually a psychological condition. Those who suffer from anorexia nervosa or bulimia have a distorted perception of themselves, believe that depriving themselves of nourishment helps them correct their body image. Many people who are obese are also believed to be suffereing from an eating disorder or indulge in emotional eating that led them to overeat.

Though not alway true, emotions now have something to do with how and what we eat. Emotional eating is described as “eating as a response to a feeling or event.” Some kids display emotional eating by consuming a lot of junk food when they don’t get enough attention or are getting too much of it. Emotional eating becomes a cry for help or a means of release.

While the term ‘comfort food’ brings images of hot soup and bread on a wintery night, it hasd not morphed into the food we commonly eat in order to bring us comfort and make us feel better when something bad happens, except that we only knowingly load up on calories.

Emotional eating manifests itself in many ways. Some people turn to food when they’re angry, some turn to food when they’re stressed, then there are people who eat when they’re bored. When we have difficulty with relationships, we create a relationship with food instead – that’s when it becomes an eating disorder.

If you seem to fit any of the descriptions above, then you are into emotional eating and may be suffereing from an eating disorder. it’s time to examine your lifestyle and what role food portrays in your life. Start a journal and write down what you ate and how much of it AND what you were feeling at that moment. Explain what triggered you to eat – what happened before that? Who were you with?

After a week or two, you’ll be able to see if there is a pattern or recurring emotions or situations that lead you to food. By taking note of these emotions and events, you’ll be able to spot them the next time. When you do, think of an alternative activity you can do instead of eating. Take a walk, write down your feelings or watch something good on TV.

Dealing with emotional eating is not just about preventing yourself from gaining too much calories. It’s more about being healthy in mind and body. Emotional eating is an ever present threat. Don’t let an eating disorder get between you and your health.

Recommended:

• For the beginner, take our Diet/Eating Personality quiz and Fun Fitness Program Questionnaire to assess yourself.
• If you enjoyed this article, please take the time and take our fitness survey so we may continue to research articles of interest. Click Here to take survey

Related Posts:
1. Is Weight Loss Complicated?
2. How You Should Evaluate a Weight Loss Program

Popularity: 24% [?]