The Food Fight

Do you eat when you’re NOT HUNGRY, or when you’ve experienced some TYPE OF STRESS and FEEL GUILTY afterwards? Find out if you’re an emotional eater.

- Sisonke Labase

Do you “eat to live or live to eat”? The core of this debate questions our relationship with food. Sophie, 31, eats normally during the day but frequently wakes up at night to ‘snack on something’. “Black forest cake is my weakness. I can finish five thick slices at a go in one night.” Sophie has an eating disorder: the night eating syndrome, which the National Institute of Mental Health reveals affects women and men just like emotional or binge eating.

The institute further says that those with this type of eating disorder are likely to suffer from depression, obesity, substance abuse, and other emotional issues. Their productivity is often affected as they’re unable to maintain healthy sleeping and eating patterns, and they typically feel guilt, shame and a lack of control. Psychologist Clara Blackie says,“It’s psychological and is rooted in chasing instant gratification; that is, once you eat something, you’ll be happy or calmer.”