by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: May 07, 2009

Eating is part of everybody's daily routine. For most people this means breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and maybe a couple of snacks in between. Not everybody chooses to follow such a schedule: some people work irregular hours which can affect when they eat and what they eat, others may think it wise to skip a meal or two in the hopes that they will lose weight, whilst others just love to eat and find themselves grazing on food all day. There are others who may eat between meals not just because of their love of food, but due to a compulsion to eat. The pull of food is too much to ignore and they end up bingeing on all kinds of food, though most individuals have their own comfort food of choice. Their desire to eat is driven by their emotions.

Emotional eating isn't about feeding your body for sustenance, nor is it even necessarily about simply enjoying your food. Whilst some people turn to alcohol or drugs when they are feeling down and depressed; others turn to food. Everybody has their own way of coping with stress and negative feelings, but whether you choose to drink or eat it offers a sense of release. You are no longer responsible for your actions - you simply let your impulses take over you. When people turn to food for comfort they are not eating because they are hungry, but because eating has positive connotations with it, which can make them feel better about things, for a short while anyway.

You don't even have to be stressed or depressed to find yourself eating as a result of your emotions. There are a whole range of emotions which can fuel people's inclination to eat when they are not hungry - boredom and disappointment can also feature, but some people find that they turn to food even when they are happy. It is not unusual for individuals who are contented because they are in happy, stable relationships to pile on the pounds as they enjoy food with their partners.

Emotional eating might not be considered a bad thing by everybody, but it can be when people feel that they have no control over their eating habits. This is particularly true of individuals who keep on gaining weight, and those who want to try to lose weight. Eating because of your emotions, particularly negative emotions, might make you feel better for a minute or so but the chances are that you will end up feeling guilty for giving into temptation, which may have you reaching for a big tub of ice cream once more. It therefore makes sense to find a way of dealing with your emotions in a more effective way than simply turning to food.

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