There is a complex relationship between food and mood. Sometimes emotions can even decide which foods to consume. In cases of intense stress, the desire to eat can become excessive. The foods we consume not only energize our body but also affect brain function. There are also changes in eating behavior in positive and negative emotional states.
The Effects of Emotional States on Appetite
There are many views on how mood affects eating behaviors. For example, in a study examining how negative emotions are linked to eating, the occurrence of sadness rather than happiness was found to trigger the need to eat more. In a study conducted in people with normal body weight, positive emotions triggered the need to eat. The need to eat appears as a way to cope with negative emotional states or as a psychological aid.
In addition, difficulty in identifying or understanding emotional states may increase the need to eat. People's intense emotions and difficulty in understanding the meaning of emotions can lead to the need to overeat. For example, the sentence "I don't feel well" includes a broader expression, while the sentence "I feel thoughtful" describes the emotional state more descriptively. If people have difficulty in expressing themselves, they may try to escape from the state of uneasiness by focusing on food.
When we consider eating behavior, which is affected by many situations, psychologically, it is seen that different events that people experience in their daily lives are affected by various emotions such as being stressed, being nervous, boredom, being happy, being joyful and excited, and eating behaviors can differ according to their emotional states.
How to Control Overeating?
Although emotions are effective in nutrition, in some studies, the desire to eat is 70 percent dependent on the emotional state. The person should ask himself/herself the following question before eating: Am I really hungry? Do I really need to eat? The desire to overeat and how these situations can be controlled can be listed as follows;
- Be Aware
The foods we take during periods of changing emotions can often be the ones we consume without realizing it. During these periods, people may not be aware of the foods they take, thinking that they just need to eat something. The important point here is to create awareness. If the person asks themselves what they eat, how it tastes and how it looks, their awareness will increase and they will be able to control their desire to overeat. - Identify the Factors
If the food intake and feelings are noted in situations of emotional change, at the end of the day, the person will be able to face them and understand which situations triggered the need to eat and will be conscious of the situation in later situations. - Change your habits
Some people often feel the need to eat when they are lonely, bored and need to feel good. In these situations, it may be preferable to go out and meet a friend or take a walk. Making new habits for oneself and not being alone will prevent the need to overeat. - Engage in Social Activities
The need to overeat is often caused by a change in a person's emotions and an emotional emptiness that leads to the need to eat. The individual can fill this void by engaging in new activities. Spending time with friends, doing sports, going for a walk, participating in artistic and cultural activities and taking time for oneself can prevent the desire to overeat.
Why Does Emotional Anorexia Occur? Can it be prevented?
Loss of appetite, which can be seen at any age, is when a person does not feel hungry. From a psychological point of view, loss of appetite may occur in emotional situations such as stress, anxiety, sadness, end of a relationship, divorce, depression and the person may not feel the need to eat. In order to prevent and prevent such situations, the source of the problem must first be identified. If there is a disease-related problem, psychological support should be sought. In addition, the person should not skip meals, consume acidic drinks, smoke or drink alcohol.