Today we are going to talk about the Emotional Eater. 

This is a continuation of our discussion of the four typical categories people fall into when they are struggling with weight loss and body image.

If you don’t remember, here are the four categories:

1.     Hungry Brain- A person who eats a lot at every meal, sometimes up to 1000 calories in one sitting.

2.     Hungry Gut- A person who eats frequently because they feel full very fast and then needs to eat every couple hours.

3.     Emotional Eater- A person who turns to food when they are very happy or very sad. 

4.     Slow Metabolism- A person who has a slower metabolism and doesn’t burn as many calories as the average person. 

Typically, 85% of people who struggle with a healthy weight fall into these categories. 

Emotional Eater

If you or your child are an Emotional Eater the solution could be Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This type of therapy is led by a counselor who teaches people to deal with their emotions differently. By changing the way you react to your emotions, you may be able to help yourself break the cycle of emotional eating and get to your goal weight. If you want to try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, it’s important to find a counselor who is trained in that therapy.

Another solution for emotional eating is planning. Having a plan for what to do when you or your child is feeling those strong emotions can help in dealing with them in a healthier way. It’s important to make this plan during a period when you’re feeling good, but not having strong emotions. For example, you can plan to write, color, or dance instead of turning to food the next time this situation arises. Having a plan and having resources ready can help divert your attention to something other than food. 

At the Wellness Center at Progressive Pediatrics, we are happy to help you and your child deal with emotional eating. We can help you find a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy counselor, and we can give you the tools you need to reach your goals. Even if you don’t fall into one of these four categories, there is always a way to be successful in your journey. Let us help! 

Let us help you by making an appointment today at: https://progressivepediatrics.com/wellness/call

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