Stress & Overeating

By Kara Ten Kley, Registered Dietitian

Why do you overeat when you're feeling stressed?

Rather than dealing directly with a stressful situation, some of us reach for extra food to calm down. The act of eating is more important than the food choice for many binge and overeaters. A kind of physical calm and sleepiness occur because lots of food at one time drives blood to the digestive system and away from the brain.

What to do?

Change how you react to stress. Try to turn to a diversion that does not involve food. Any kind of physical activity is a good first line of defense.
Resist skipping meals. Eating balanced meals every day gives you the fuel you need to keep energy high and avoid fatigue. Skipping meals can lead to out of control hunger.
Try relaxing with a warm bath, listening to soothing music or watching a favorite television program.
Use humor. Try reading a book, talking with a friend or renting a video. Laughter distracts and relaxes.
Discard unrealistic images about how you look and how much you should weigh.
Put off any major weight changes while you are stressed. Wait until a better time in life.