2.When food becomes a comfort
For many, food serves as a way to escape from emotional discomfort. Emotional eating occurs when we use food to manage emotions such as sadness, anxiety, or loneliness rather than to satisfy hunger. Unlike eating to meet a physical need, emotional eating is often a way to distract ourselves from emotional pain.
A study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research reveals that emotional eaters are more likely to reach for high-calorie, sugary, or fatty foods. These indulgences temporarily activate the brain’s reward system, offering the briefest relief, but the comfort is fleeting, and emotional eating often leads to guilt, thus perpetuating a harmful cycle.
Breaking free from emotional eating starts with recognizing emotional triggers. Are you reaching for a snack when you’re stressed, bored, or feeling down? Developing alternative coping mechanisms—such as journaling, meditation, or calling a friend—can replace food as an emotional crutch, paving the way for more mindful eating.