Not All Emotional Eaters are Overweight

When TV shows and media show us what an emotional eater looks like, it is usually someone who would be categorized as obese by the BMI chart. Their rolls and double chin are highlighted to create a character that seems lazy or is the punchline in a few jokes. Not only is this incredibly harmful messaging to those in bigger bodies, it also isn’t indicative of the experience of all emotional eaters.

But there is no one body type for emotional eaters, it can affect anyone.

They could identify as male or female.

They could be a preteen or a person in their 50s.

They could be from any cultural background.

They could reach for savoury or sweet foods when an emotion comes up.

What they do all have in common is that is that they eat to sooth themselves. When a feeling comes up that they can’t manage or don’t want to feel, they reach for food as a distraction, to numb out, even to bring some control or joy to the moment.

While from a caloric perspective, it is true that eating more than your body needs to function will have you gain weight, not all emotional eaters’ binge or overeat. Are you starting to see how varied (and common!) emotional eating is?

Some emotional eaters get caught up in the binge/restrict cycle where they ‘even out’ their eating for days at a time. Others offset their emotional eating with time working out. And we can’t forget how genetics impact our waistline as well!

It all comes down to the old saying that you never really know the battles others are facing. This is why here at the Centre for Emotional Eating we are all about showing kindness—to ourselves and others!

💛 Your peace awaits.