Hi, happy Monday! ☀️
If you are not a member of Weight Loss Latvia Facebook group, you definitely did not have a chance to listen to my first session about Emotional eating last week?!
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Here I am happy to share my most important conclusions from the first - Intro part -
1. What is Emotional eating
Emotional eating is often driven by unmet emotional needs, either from childhood or later in life. Food becomes a coping mechanism - a way to soothe, comfort, or manage emotions.
2. Early psychological roots
Sigmund Freud in the 19th century suggested that emotional eating in adulthood may have its roots in early childhood, particularly during the oral stage, when a child experiences the world through the mouth.
If emotional needs were not fully met during this stage, it may later manifest as behaviours such as:
- emotional eating
- smoking
- nail biting
These behaviours can be understood as attempts to self-soothe.
3. Dieting and restraint (modern research)
Later research, including Restraint Theory, shows that:
- strict dieting and food restriction can increase cravings
- restriction often leads to overeating or emotional eating
- emotional eating act is usually followed by sensations of guilt and shame
People who have:
- better emotional stability
- flexible emotion coping strategies
are less likely to struggle with emotional eating.
👉 In contrast, poor emotional regulation increases the risk.
4. Emotional vs physical hunger (key distinction)
Emotional hunger:
- comes suddenly
- involves cravings for specific foods (often high in sugar or fat)
- feels urgent
- can continue even after eating
Physical hunger:
- develops gradually
- comes with physical signals (e.g. stomach growling, low energy)
- can be satisfied with a variety of foods
- stops after a balanced meal
5. Psychological / Emotional triggers
Emotional eating can be triggered by a wide range of emotions, including:
- sadness
- stress
- fear
- boredom
- even happiness or celebration
There is often a link between specific emotions and specific food cravings.
6. Cultural and environmental influence
Culture plays a significant role in shaping eating behaviours.
Different countries have traditions that connect food with emotions and social life:
- UK: coffee, sweets, family meals (e.g. Sunday roast)
- USA: “comfort foods”
- Mediterranean cultures: social gatherings centered around food
While these traditions can:
- strengthen social connections and reduce loneliness
they can also:
- normalise overeating
- reinforce emotional eating patterns
Additionally, media and food industries often link products with emotions such as:
- comfort & joy
- family time and connection
which further reinforces emotional eating.
7. How to address emotional eating
To effectively manage emotional eating, it is important to:
- understand the underlying emotional triggers
- develop healthier emotion coping strategies
- build awareness of why and when you eat
Note that lasting change comes not from control alone, but from understanding and emotional awareness.
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💚 The next session we will go deeper in the psychological roots of emotional eating, understanding the role of childhood in our food choices and will learn more about brain - food connection.
WHEN: Thursday, April 2 @ 19:00 UK / Irish time
WHERE: Weight Loss Latvia Facebook Group
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Weight loss surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity in todays medicine. However, developing a new relationship with food and understanding the psychological factors behind eating are key to achieving long-term success and maintaining results.
Regards,
Ilva Urbanovica
Weight Loss Latvia
📞 +371 29148884
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