5 minutes agoAuthor: Shashank Shukla
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relationships Stress, work pressure and financial problems, all these affect our emotions. Because of these we feel sad and become depressed.
What do you do when you are sad?
Have you ever noticed that when you are sad or upset, you tend to reach for food. In such a situation we eat without hunger. Food becomes such a thing for us, which gives some relief in pain. This may provide some temporary relief, but emotional eating is a serious threat to our health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, in 2016, 39% of adults above 18 years of age worldwide were found to be obese. Emotional eating has emerged as a major reason behind this growing problem. Talking about statistics, 40% to 60% of the people who are obese indulge in emotional eating.
So today relationship I will know that-
- What is emotional eating?
- What are the side effects?
- How to avoid or get rid of it?
What is emotional eating?
When you are troubled by negative emotions, food cravings occur. In this situation there is a desire to eat without hunger. When we eat to get rid of stress, this is called emotional eating.
In this situation, there is a desire to eat fast food with heavy calories and carbs, which is harmful for our health.
How to Identify Emotional Eating?
When you feel like eating even without hunger, it can be a sign of emotional eating. People usually eat more when they feel stressed, sad or lonely.
A person suffering from emotional eating overeats without hunger. But later he regrets it and feels bad. Let us understand the symptoms of emotional eating graphically.
What are the side effects of emotional eating?
According to a research published on Science Direct in 2021, people who do not control immediate gratification are 18% more likely to engage in emotional eating. Emotional eating can cause changes in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) of our brain.
The lateral hypothalamus is the part of the brain that controls hunger, thirst, sleep, and hormones. Due to this change, we get more attracted towards food containing sugar and fat. It can also affect the reward system of our brain.
problem of increasing weight
We consume more calories during emotional eating. This can lead to weight gain and continuously increasing weight can lead to obesity.
risk of diabetes
Consuming excessive sugar, fat and unhealthy foods can affect the body’s insulin levels, increasing the risk of diabetes.
harm to mental health
Emotional eating can give a person mental peace for some time, but in the long run it can cause depression and anxiety problems.
eating disorder
The habit of emotional eating can become more serious over time. The person may be suffering from bulimia. In this, a person vomits after eating too much food to avoid its side effects. This can be dangerous for mental and physical health.
digestive problems
Overeating puts pressure on the digestive system, which can lead to gas, indigestion, constipation and other digestive problems.
lack of energy and fatigue
Due to poor diet the body does not get the necessary nutrients. This may cause fatigue, weakness and lethargy.
Loss of self-respect
Emotional eating can lower a person’s self-esteem and can also cause problems in social relationships. The person may feel insecure about themselves and embarrassed about their weight or diet.
risk of serious diseases
Eating too much of fat and sugary foods due to emotional eating can lead to problems like heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Ways to get rid of emotional eating: You can adopt various methods to avoid emotional eating. This is not a disease, but a habit. In such a situation, you can improve your habits before it turns into a disease.
Deal with stress – Negative emotions can be reduced through exercise, yoga and meditation. This can help you overcome emotional eating.
Adopt mindful eating – Eat food by chewing it slowly. Notice whether you’re hungry or not and savor every bite. With this you can avoid overeating.
Keep healthy food options – Limit the amount of sweet and fatty foods in the house. Instead, keep fresh fruits and vegetables in the fridge, so you can grab a healthy snack whenever you feel hungry.
Take help from experts – If you feel you can’t do it on your own, contact your doctor. You can also take help from mental health expert and dietician.
