what is stress eating

Stress eating is a behavior where people eat in response to stress, anxiety, or other negative emotions. Stress eating is often associated with consuming high-fat, sugary "comfort foods". Studies have shown that physical or emotional distress increases the intake of food high in fat, sugar, or both. Stress also seems to affect food preferences, and high cortisol levels, in combination with high insulin levels, may be responsible for this. Once ingested, fat- and sugar-filled foods seem to have a feedback effect that dampens stress-related responses and emotions, which may contribute to peoples stress-induced craving for those foods. Stress eating can sabotage weight loss goals, and it often leads to eating too much, especially high-calorie, sweet, and fatty foods. Emotional eating is eating as a way to suppress or soothe negative emotions, such as stress, anger, fear, boredom, sadness, and loneliness. Emotional eating can disrupt weight-loss efforts and lead to increased food consumption, fat storage, and weight gain. To manage stress eating, one can practice mindful eating, find healthier options, exercise to reduce stress, and identify the circumstances and emotions that lead to stress-eating.