Lifestyle News: Have you ever noticed that your eating habits change when you are sad, bored or anxious? Many people say that when they have problems they eat more or less to help them cope.
Although this is a very normal reaction, it can take away the pleasure of eating and can be distressing and can also lead to other feelings of shame and self-criticism. We live in a world where diet culture is inescapable and our relationship with food, food, and body image can be complex and confusing.
Emotional eating is common
Emotional eating is when you eat to cope with difficult emotions. Research shows that about 20 percent of people regularly eat emotionally. Its prevalence is higher among adolescents and women. A study of more than fifteen hundred teens found that 34 percent of teens engage in emotional eating when they are sad, while 40 percent of teens engage in emotional eating when they are anxious.
When you’re stressed, in a bad mood, or feel bad about yourself, foods high in fat, sugar, and salt can increase your appetite. The foods consumed are usually “fast food” and foods devoid of other energy nutrients.
Stress, intense emotions and depression.
For some people, emotional eating is just a habit that is acquired at a young age and persists over time. But other factors can also contribute to the likelihood of emotional eating.
For example, the physical effects of stress and intense emotions can affect hormones such as cortisol, insulin, and glucose, which can also increase appetite. Depression, the tendency to ruminate, and difficulty controlling emotions also increase the likelihood of emotional eating.
So what do you do?
First, know that it is normal to have ups and downs in eating habits. However, if you find that your way of eating isn’t working for you, there are some things you can do. Start with small, achievable things, like getting enough sleep and eating regularly. Then you can start to think about how you manage your emotions and expand your awareness.
We often label emotions as good or bad. But it is also important that you recognize this feeling. Developing intuitive eating patterns is another useful strategy for promoting healthy eating behaviors. This style of eating also allows us to enjoy eating out with friends and tasting local cuisine while traveling.
It can also reduce the psychological stress caused by not having control over your eating habits and the negative body image associated with them. For some people, food, eating habits, and a person’s thoughts and behaviors can have a negative impact on their life. Support from friends and family, access to online resources, and in some cases meeting with a trained professional can be very helpful.
Devendra Naresh
Naresh
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