Help I Can't Stop Eating!

We all eat more at this time of year but is your appetite out of control? Here’s how to curb it for good

- Faye M Smith

Just finished a meal, but still want more? You’re not alone. A recent study* found that 65% of us snack at least once between meals, with 18% admitting that snacking has become a habit. And it’s not simply greed that has caused the average British woman’s waistline to expand six inches in the past 60 years**, our busy, modern lifestyles are to blame too.

“We’ve lost touch,” says Dr Aria Campbell-Danesh (dr-aria.com), a behaviour psychologist who specialises in weight management. “The human appetite is designed to regulate the amount of food that our bodies need. However, in a society in which we’re bombarded with food advertising and high-sugar foods engineered to promote over consumption, we’re off-kilter.”

It sounds simple, but taking our relationship with food back to basics could be the solution. That means three balanced meals a day, enjoyed without distractions. Yet a survey by British Lion Eggs found that 29% of us eat just one meal a day. “Family responsibilities, relationships and work demands mean that mealtimes are frequently relegated in importance,” says Dr Aria. “We skip meals, eat in our cars and scoff a sandwich while checking emails. This all aids overeating.” So if you love eating while watching House of Cards, it could be showing on your waistline!

EATING YOUR EMOTIONS

And while mindful eating helps, if you’ve been known to grab chocolate after a hard day, you’ll know that cravings are closely linked to emotions. “We all eat to change how we feel,” explains Dr Aria. “We’re more motivated to eat if we’re sad, angry or bored, or as a reward.”