Are you Eating your emotions?

When you understand the triggers that prompt you to find solace in food, you take back the power to respond more positively

- Kellie Gillespie-Wright

Do you eat more when you're feeling stressed, or angry, or bored? Maybe you use food to feel better when you're sad or anxious, or do you feel powerless and out of control around food? Does food feel like a friend, calming you and making you feel safe, or do you turn to the fridge even when you're not hungry for a little boost or reward?

If any of this rings a bell, you're an emotional eater - and you're not alone. According to researchers at the University of Maryland, 75 per cent of overeating is caused by emotions, but often the connection goes unnoticed, preventing us from expressing and managing our feelings, and leading to unhealthy habits and a sense of powerlessness.

We forget that our food choices sometimes defy logic, common sense, and willpower and, instead, are driven by a much greater need for comfort. After all, from the moment you entered this world and found solace in your mother's milk, food has held a profound significance as a symbol of connection and nourishment.

Yet, relying on food as your primary coping mechanism for emotional distress such as anger, stress, loneliness, or exhaustion, can lead to an unhealthy cycle of poor nutrition and binge eating, where underlying issues remain unresolved.

By understanding the roots of emotional eating, and adopting effective strategies, you can break free from this cycle and reclaim control over your relationship with food and your emotions.

Emma Randall, a nutritional consultant and one of the UK's leading voices in mindful eating, says: "The problem with emotional eating is that it doesn't solve problems. Emotional eating can actually make us feel worse, due to feelings of guilt and shame around what has just been eaten.' She suggests starting a new conversation with yourself when you overeat. 'Rather than saying unhelpful things like, "I'm greedy", or "I'm out of control", you can work towards figuring out the deeper reasons.