Sometimes people assume that weight gain is caused by the act of overeating.  However, health experts estimate that 75% of overeating is caused by emotions.  So it’s important not to view weight gain as the problem, but yet a symptom of a larger issue.  

Finding out why we emotionally eat may take some work, but by doing so you can get back the control you need in your life to look and feel the way you want to. Here are some health tips to stop emotional eating.

• Analyzing Your Triggers.  Since emotional eating is a subconscious behavior, it takes some work to recognize our triggers.  For example, some studies show that we eat more when dining out with friends.  This trigger would be considered “social eating.”  Do you eat when you’re upset, exhausted or skipped meals?  The next time you overeat, don’t get frustrated with yourself.  Instead write about what caused you to eat.  If you do this for a month or so, the pattern will become apparent.
  
• Stop Searching for Comfort in Food. Many people overeat in times of emotional stress.  Eating is the coping skill we’re most comfortable with, so we use it to deal with our problems.  If we can identify the emotions that trigger our eating, we’re one step closer to solving the real problem. 
  

• Change your Behavior. Once you’ve identified your triggers, you can work on changing the behavior. The key is distracting yourself instead of eating.  If you’re in a time of emotional distress and would normally eat a carton of ice cream, try going for a walk or call a friend.  Changing your behavior will be hard, but well worth the effort. 

• Don’t Be Afraid to Get Help. Since weight gain can be symptomatic of a more serious issue, it’s important to recognize when you need help.  If you need help, contact a counselor or psychologist in your area.
  
• Reward Yourself Often. We’re very good at punishing ourselves when we overeat, but don’t forget to reward yourself for eating well.  Enjoy a day at the spa or buy a favorite book.  Do something that you wouldn’t normally do for yourself.
  

About the Author Kelly DiLauro

Kelly J. DiLauro is the CEO of Dedicated Woman, inc., a company that provides resources to help women feel better about their bodies. Dedicated Woman offers an array of different products to address women’s top health concerns, such as bone health, immune, metabolism and weight loss. Manufactured according to exacting quality standards, Dedicated Woman supplements are available for purchase on the company website: www.dedicatedwoman.com or by calling 1-800-513-6672.