Although we might expect that these symptoms would discourage people from overeating, unfortunately, the body adjusts to overeating by releasing dopamine—a natural pleasure chemical that encourages us to eat even more. So even if overeating causes pain and discomfort, we may feel compelled to continue overeating. This is an important part of how food addiction develops. So over a longer period of time, overeating on a regular basis, without adequate exercise can lead to weight gain. And just to make the situation even more complicated, there is not just one type of overeating. It can happen as a result of how you feel, who you are with, and many other factors. Here are 10 of the most frequently cited ways that overeating can become an issue. Binge eating can happen on a single occasion, or it can become a regular way of eating, leading to problems. Although binge eating in itself does not necessarily constitute a food addiction or eating disorder, binge eating is a symptom of Binge Eating Disorder and the eating disorder Bulimia Nervosa and can be problematic. Supersize meal portions are heavily marketed, particularly in North American culture. This can easily lead to consuming much larger amounts of food than necessary and, if eaten on a regular basis, can lead to obesity and poor nutrition. The clichés of the girl eating a quart of ice cream after a bad breakup, or the middle-aged women bingeing on carbs when she has PMS, are examples of “emotional eating” stereotypes. Unfortunately these stereotypes can lead to the very behavior they portray in people who relate to them. What’s more, men experience emotional eating as well. Stress eating, comfort eating, and boredom eating all fall under the category of “emotional eating.”
Boredom eating is a mindless approach to food, in which a lack of stimulation in other areas of life leads to eating, just to feel something. Boredom eaters can be prone to binge eating, supersize portions, compulsive snacking, sugar addiction, and fast food.Comfort eating is often to deal with distressing emotions, similar to stress eaters and emotional eaters.Stress eating is more heavily driven by anxiety rather than depression, and may be a way of fueling overwork when the time is not taken for adequate breaks or meals.
Parents should be vigilant that their children do not develop sugar addiction, as daily sweets consumption in childhood is related to emotional difficulties in adulthood, as well as obesity and tooth decay. Grazing is a common disordered eating behavior that tends to lead to overeating. Many overeaters fall into the trap of carefully planning three healthy meals a day but not including snacks in their calorie count, thereby inadvertently overeating.
