Are You an Emotional Eater?

Everyone eats for reasons other than hunger once in a while, but if you notice that you often reach for food out of boredom or for comfort, you may be eating for emotional reasons. Check out the common signs and how to deal with emotional eating.

Common Signs:

• Changing your eating habits when you have more stress in your life
• Eating when you are not hungry or when you are full
• Eating to avoid dealing with a stressful situation
• Eating to soothe your feelings Using food as a reward (for example, “That was a really tough job/assignment/argument. I need some ice cream/candy/popcorn!”)

How to Change:

• Identify your emotional triggers
• Identify your hunger by using a hunger scale
• Replace your usual response to stress and other triggers with constructive behaviors like going for a walk or calling a friend

Source: WebMD

Worried you’re an “emotional eater?” Tweet us a question @ACISpecBenefits.  Your employee assistance program has a step-by-step action plan to reaching your goals. Contact ACI at 800.932.0034 or email eapinfo@acispecialtybenefits.com.