Why Emotional Eating Isn’t About Hunger

Emotional eating may be a greater problem than most people would first assume. The American Psychological Association found that 27% of adults eat as a way to manage stress and overwhelming emotions.

How is “emotional eating” defined?

Emotional eating is traditionally defined as “eating, often excessively, as a response to stress, boredom, unhappiness, or another emotional condition, rather than as a response to physical hunger.”

A person suffering from poor mental health may see food as a way to soothe unwanted feelings. You may have seen emotional eating manifest as a person going through a whole container of ice cream after a breakup, or downing energy drinks while cramming for an exam. In these cases, it is suggested that the person’s emotions, rather than their hunger cues, drove them to consume.

In essence, emotional eating suggests that food is used for comfort, instead of nourishment. A person may feel a certain emotional emptiness that only food can satisfy, which is not the same as the emptiness felt in a stomach that hasn’t been fed.

Physical hunger vs. emotional hunger

Understanding the ways emotional hunger is distinguishable from physical hunger can help us better understand emotional eating. The next time you feel voraciously hungry, look for signals that the desire may be rooted in emotion rather than true physical need.

Distinguishable characteristics between the two forms include:

Is emotional eating the same as binge eating?

Though they may share some commonalities, emotional eating is not synonymous with binge eating. They overlap in some areas, so it is helpful to outline some key differences.

Binge eating is an eating disorder classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). A person with a binge eating disorder eats a larger-than-normal portion of food in a relatively short time, usually less than two hours. Binge eating disorder can cause a person to fast sporadically or engage in extreme, repetitive dieting.

Emotional eating on the other hand is not considered a classifiable eating disorder. The Journal of Eating Disorders states that emotional eating is nonpathological, meaning it is not related to disease processes. Emotional eating may also be considered as one symptom or a risk factor that contributes to a binge eating disorder.

What are the causes and triggers of emotional eating?

A specific list of causes and contributors of emotional eating may be inexhaustive. However, some of the most common external contributors to emotional eating include:

• Unmanaged emotions: If you have troubling thoughts and emotions that stem from other aspects of your life, such as your health, finances or relationships, then you may be turning to food as an escape from those feelings.
• Restrictive dieting: People who are too vigorous and rigid in their diet may be more likely to connect emotions with food. You may tell yourself you cannot have a certain type of food because it’s not part of a current diet that fits into desired goals. Without a nutritionist’s guidance, it’s easy to make errors on which foods are good and which are bad for you.
• Unattainable self-body imaging: Many people who struggle with body dysmorphic disorder suffer from feelings of shame and guilt when they eat a certain food. This destructive condition can dangerously mislead a person into aiming for a goal that is impossible to achieve.

How can I work on overcoming emotional eating?

If you struggle with emotional eating, try these steps to understand better how your emotions relate to food and to regain control:

Where can I find support for emotional eating and addiction?

If you’re caught in the cycle of eating as a way to manage emotions, escape may feel unattainable. If you or a loved one are struggling with food-related coping mechanisms or other addictions, reaching out for support is the first step toward healing.

At Banbury Lodge, we offer comprehensive eating disorder treatment programmes to help you address emotional eating. Our personalised detox programmes help ease triggers and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Ongoing aftercare supports and maintains long-term well-being and prevents relapse.

You don’t have to navigate a difficult journey alone. Contact us today and take the first step toward regaining control and living life on your own terms.