and teens can be susceptible to
emotional eating for many reasons
such as difficulties
expressing themselves,
inadequate nutrition,
eating mindlessly because they’re
distracted, or mental health issues
such as those mentioned above.
Stress can also contribute as food can be
self-soothing, pleasurable and numbing.
In an effort to help and support your
child, it’s important that parents focus
their conversations on the family’s (not
the child’s) health behaviors, rather than
on weight, body shape or size. A 2013
study in JAMA Pediatrics entitled “Parent
Conversations About Healthful Eating
and Weight: Association with Adolescent
Disordered Eating Behavior” found that
words, especially from parents, mattered
in terms of weight and body issues.
“Mothers and fathers who engaged
in weight-related conversations had
adolescents who were more likely to diet,
use unhealthy weight control behaviors,
and engage in binge eating,” the study
reported. “Overweight/obese adolescentsV9 - FALL maskmatters.org 49e
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eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and
anorexia nervosa.
People often confuse emotional
eating with binge eating, a
mental health disorder. The
difference is that binge eating
disorder is more severe and
has specific criteria associated
with it. Binge eating disorder is
defined as eating a large amount
of food in a small amount of time;
a feeling of being out of control;
is associated with shame, extreme
distress, poor self-image; and
interferes with daily functioning.
Both binge eating (or emotional
eating) and binge eating disorder
can be ways to manage emotions.
And both can be destructive and
cause self-loathing, low self-esteem
and health issues.
Typically, emotional eating
can be recognized when children
are eating continually, eating in
secret (you may find food wrappers
hidden in their room or car), or eating
when they’re not hungry. Children
whose mothers engaged in conversations
that were focused only on healthful eating
behaviors were less likely to diet and
use unhealthy weight control. Both
parents engaging in healthy eating
conversations had best results.”
Talk about eating for wellness (strong
bones, muscles and brain power) vs.
telling them they need to lose weight.
Avoid restrictive eating practices that can
make children and teens less vulnerable
to overeating, and assuring that kids are
eating regularly and receiving adequate
nutrition can be extremely helpful.
Parents can help their kids learn
coping mechanisms for dealing with
difficult emotions and social stressors by
modeling and suggesting alternatives such
as listening to music, talking with friends,
being active (i.e., swimming, hiking, or
playing basketball), and doing things that
make them laugh.
If you find that you need support with
your loved one who eats emotionally, seek
help from a counselor or dietitian who
understands eating issues and can guide
you.