Eating Disorders and Stress

By Staff Writer

In addition to eating in order to meet their nutritional needs or to stave off hunger, some people eat because they are lonely sad, angry, depressed, or simply bored. Others will eat -or refuse to eat -because they are experiencing stress.

Mental health experts have found that eating disorders and stress have a close relationship. For some people, the stress that results from trauma, emotional problems or the hassles and demands of everyday life can lead to the development of a problem with food.

Emotional Eating

When food is used to relieve stress or improve mood this is sometimes referred to as emotional eating. Emotional eating often leads to an individual becoming overweight or obese. The Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource explains emotional eaters have a tendency to eat foods that are especially sweet, salty, fatty, and high-calorie.

To overcome a problem with emotional eating, a person (most likely with the assistance of a physician, therapist or treatment personnel at a residential eating disorder program) must first identify the emotions and feelings that are triggering the desire for food. Once these emotions are identified, it’s necessary to find a different way to handle them and look for comfort in healthier ways. Some of the most common causes of persistent stress include too much work, difficult relationships, health problems and co-occurring mental health disorders.

Body Image

Some of the stresses that contribute to eating disorders involve body image. Cultural pressures to have an “ideal” body image can result in stress that leads some men and women to engage in dangerous behaviors such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and emotional eating. These social and cultural pressures can affect both men and women. The struggle to build self-esteem and self-confidence can cause stress that leads to the development of an eating disorder.

Different eating disorders have their own set of psychological components. However, although the dynamics may differ based on the eating disorder, each disorder has the common theme of providing an unhealthy way for a person to cope with stress.

Risk Factors

People who do not know how to process pressures and frustrations in a responsible and healthy manner are at increased risk of eating disorders and other emotional issues.

Problems such work-related problems, financial problems, relationship difficulties and major life changes are all examples of external stress. However, stress can also be self-generated. Some common internal causes of stress include pessimism, unrealistic expectations, perfectionism, negativity and an inability to accept uncertainty.

People who develop eating disorders as a means to cope with stress need professional help that will provide them with the skills and strategies to manage their emotions in a healthy and productive manner.