We all know that Americans are getting fatter. Go to any public place and you can see this clearly. Part of the problem is in the abundance of foods that are available 24 hours a day. As Americans we are also much more sedentary than were previous generations. Our consumption of high fat foods coupled with minimal physical activity contributes to storing excess fat and unhealthy bodies. These factors do not explain all the increase in American’s expanding waistlines. Plenty of people who struggle with extra weight use food for purposes other than nutrition and fueling the body. In these cases, it is not about the food; it is about what eating does for the person emotionally. For some, food can help to stuff down unpleasant feelings, fill a void of loneliness, and provide comfort. Food can also be used to deal with boredom and stress. For all these situations, the food fills a need, but only temporarily. Stuffed feelings don’t go away; they are just stuck somewhere else, unresolved. The eating does not address the reasons for the negative emotions in the first place. The only thing eating truly fixes is physical hunger and the need for nutrition.
By the way, carrying extra weight on the body can serve a purpose as well. An extra layer of fat can give a sense of protection, be used to punish oneself, or to avoid intimacy, among others. Extra weight can also be used to project an image of inner strength, like “throwing your weight around.”
Regardless how we might use food or weight, there is a high price to be paid in terms of weight gain, self-esteem, and emotional health. The real issues and problems behind our negative emotions need to be addressed and resolved. The first step in this process is to become aware of eating habits and patterns. Do you eat when you are not hungry? Do you tend to eat when angry, bored, stressed, or when experiencing some other negative emotion?
After identifying the emotions that lead to overeating, think about what you want the food to do for you. Are you wanting the food to bring calm in the face of stress, bring comfort, or help you feel good? What else could you do that could change the way you feel? Some real solutions might include talking with someone, taking a walk, or finding something you like to do instead of eating. If you think about it, there are lots of alternatives to substitute for eating when you aren’t really hungry. The bottom line is, whenever possible, deal directly with the source of the problem. By resolving the source of the problem you can eliminate the need to eat in order to change the way you feel. You will be healthier, emotionally and physically.
Sue Stevenson, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist in private practice in Littleton and is the author of “Adventures with Guided Imagery: Using Your Mind and Imagination to Nurture Skills and Master Life”. (303) 794-8194 www.suestevensonphd.com