| We all eat, but a number of people have an | | | | their weight, and whether or not they are able to |
| emotional eating disorder. | | | | stick to whatever the feel their desired weight is. |
| Food is necessary to health, to our very lives. | | | | Emotional eating can also lead to more serious |
| Without it our bodies would just shut down. But it | | | | problems such as anorexia, bulimia, binging and |
| should be noted that food also plays another role | | | | even depression. |
| in our day to day lives. It's often a source of | | | | Do you think you may be a compulsive or |
| comfort as well as entertainment. It is the habit | | | | emotional eater? How can you tell? If you answer |
| of humans to prepare and serve meals to give | | | | yes to any of the following questions, you may |
| comfort to those who are mourning something, | | | | want to seek professional help. |
| and share food while celebrating. | | | | 1) Do you often eat even when you aren't |
| But where does emotional eating come into play? | | | | hungry? |
| When does it become a disorder, since we often | | | | 2) Do you find yourself obsessed with the |
| eat food merely for the satisfaction it brings us? | | | | thought of food, whether you are planning to eat |
| If you can't experience any emotion, be it | | | | something or are trying to find the strength not |
| anxiety, joy, boredom or anything else without | | | | to eat it? |
| turning to food in an effort to deal with those | | | | 3) Are you a you-you dieter, often failing a diet |
| emotions, or you are obsessed with food, your | | | | only to overeat because of guilt? |
| weight and dieting, you could have an emotional | | | | 4) Do you purge after overeating, either by |
| eating disorder. | | | | forcing yourself to throw us or taking a laxative, |
| Instead of dealing with what's going on in their | | | | or even think about doing such a thing? |
| lives, emotional eaters will turn to food to distract | | | | 5) If you think you've eaten too much, do you |
| them. But this is a vicious cycle, as their | | | | start to compulsively exercise? |
| overeating often makes them feel guilty, and | | | | It is possible to overcome emotional eating but |
| they need to turn to food yet again, this time to | | | | new habits must be learned. It is necessary to |
| deal with their guilt. Either that, or they start on a | | | | learn how to cope with strong emotions instead |
| course of restrictive dieting, excessive exercise, | | | | of turning to food for rescue. Once a replacement |
| or they may start purging after eating. | | | | is found for food, healthy eating habits are |
| Those who eat based on their emotions also | | | | possible. |
| have the tendency to value themselves based on | | | | |