Eating Tendencies – What Causes Them and How You Can Change Them

Eating tendencies refer to specific eating patterns and preferences that lead to unhealthy behavior or weight gain, or could contribute to serious medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Understanding why unhealthy habits exist and finding ways to change them will help you reach a healthier weight while improving overall health.

An unhealthy eating tendencies include cravings for high-calorie foods, an inability to control eating, feelings of guilt or shame after overeating and postponed weight management. Unhealthy eating behaviors could also indicate depression or anxiety as potential underlying conditions.

Overeating and binge eating are common eating tendencies that are difficult to change on our own, often being caused by emotional or psychological events and usually consisting of eating more than you need. Binge eating is an extreme form of overeating characterized by episodes in which large quantities of food are eaten more quickly than normal – this often leaves individuals feeling powerless to stop themselves and can result in feelings of disgust, sadness, shame or guilt afterward.

Emotional eating occurs when we turn to food when bored, tired or emotionally upset – particularly those suffering from depression or anxiety. You can reduce emotional eating by following a regular meal schedule with healthy snacks available and practicing meditation or deep breathing techniques to calm emotions.

Skipping meals or overeating after following a restrictive diet is another cause of emotional eating. Reducing your food intake may make you crave higher-calorie options and lead to overeating; if this is happening to you, try including small treats in your diet on occasion so you can continue enjoying all your favorite snacks without feeling like something is missing from your daily regimen.

Overeating is also often caused by inactivity; research shows that too much time spent sitting down or lying down increases appetite and leads to overeating. You can fight this tendency by increasing physical activity throughout the day and hiding unhealthy snack foods out of sight so they are less likely to tempt you into overeating them.

As part of your mental wellbeing, it’s also essential that you pay attention to your eating habits and ensure they don’t become an addiction. For instance, if eating alone tends to bring on feelings of loneliness for you, making plans with friends to have lunch together at least once each week might help combat this pattern. Or if you tend to eat too quickly, try slowing your pace by setting your fork down between bites or sipping water between each one – rewarding yourself for developing good habits along the way can also help.

Consider consulting an interpersonal therapist (IPT), as they specialize in treating eating disorders. They can teach you techniques for better recognizing emotions as well as relaxation techniques to deal with them.