The end of “emotional eating”

RADICAL IDEA💡 If you turn to food when you feel painful emotions…you’re just eating. Enough of this “emotional eating” label, which pathologizes eating as a means of coping. When some individuals experience uncomfortable, painful emotions, they may turn to napping, reaching out to friends, listening to music, or going for a walk. We don’t hear these individuals say:

“I’m an emotional napper”

“I’m emotionally walking”

How come we do this with eating??

We all feel a wide range of emotions at different intensities based on how we’re wired. We’re all doing our best to cope with the discomfort that emerges when these emotions arise. Sometimes, this may involve turning toward food. For example:

If you’re happy, you can eat!

If you’re sad, you can eat!

If you’re angry, you can eat!

If you’re bored, you can eat!

Let’s recognize that eating is one form of coping. Establishing multiple ways to cope is beneficial. Pathologizing turn to food to cope: NOT BENEFICIAL.

Also of note, the research Indicates that individuals with a history of dieting are MORE LIKELY to turn to food as a means of coping. My interpretation....food isn’t the problem. Not allowing yourself to have enough nourishment, feeling deprived, and denying yourself of what you need....those are the problems

I also want to caveat all this by making sure to clarify that I’m not minimizing the psychological distress this causes some individuals. The truth is however that food can provide comfort. It’s associated with memories and experiences that genuinely are soothing. Food is also meant to be pleasurable and physiologically can reduce our stress response. So again, rather than pathologizing eating when emotions show up, consider asking yourself “I can eat when I feel ____ but what else might be helpful for me in this moment?”

Experiment. You just might learn more about yourself and your needs in the process.