Sometimes, psychologists, psychiatrists and nutritionists are faced with patients who present weight issues and problematic relationships with food; often such eating disorders symptoms of depression, anxiety, addiction and relationship difficulties. These people turns to food, not because they are hungry but because a specific emotional chain of events cause them to reach for it whenever stress or anxiety set in. This subject is approached by a new book, entitled "Stop Overeating", written by Dr Jane McCartney.
Her book lists many good suggestions or mini-interventions for combatting emotional eating. It may sound obvious, but the first is just to ask, 'Am I hungry?' If the answer is yes, try having a drink of water before you reach for caloric food. The other thing is give yourself a 10-minute pause. According to her, ten minutes is time enough to think about what's going on without ruminating about it. You can make a deal with yourself that if you still want that piece of cake in 10 minutes you can have it. Nine times out of 10, people will say they no longer want it. Interesting to mention that people got into the habit of permanent grazing, but they just don't realize! Once you are aware of that, you can challenge it more easily.
Passing on good habits to children is really important, so that they don't grow up with the same issues. It means not to use food as punishment or praise but, instead, allow burgers and chips once in a while and just encourage moderation.
For compulsive eating patients, restrictive diets may work for just a few people because emotions get heightened. For this purpose, the professional must explore what may be causing the episodes of over-eating, or emotional eating, by asking questions about what influences these urges. The global psychologic treatment should include the patient's background – both short-term and long-term – approaching relationships, working lives and self-esteem.
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