Emotional Eating - Where Does It Start ???

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I was thinking today about people who binge or eat emotionally and where it all starts, i mean i know most people use food for comfort but i had a thought.

Could it start during childhood?

I mean i am guilty on the odd occasion of handing my children food when they are upset to keep them quiet, half an apple so i can finish tea, biscuits and a movie so i can vac the floors.

So could I be starting them and their bodies on the recognition that food can be used for comfort.

It might be a silly thought and i know there would be some medical reason as to why our bodies recognise certain foods as comfort foods but i am wondering if i am doing more harm than good?

An example - trying to do dishes and start tea tonight, DD2 fell over, quick cuddle then into the high chair with some sprinkles on the tray.. she plays with them and they are small so takes her time to scoop them all up

[Mum2Romone]

Good point, Im an emotional eater, and certainly struggled with my weight from 17-20 so I am interested to figure it out too.

If i wasnt pregnant right now id be atleast 5kg heavier thanks to emotional eating this month

[tanyaya]

my question is: "when does it stop????"

i absolutely think that it starts early - i did look at this (my overeating) as part of a self-development course and came to the conclusion that it came about after my brother was born and i didn't get the same attention i was used to, so eating was a comfort/way of getting attention.

it's not often that i'm not shovelling something into my mouth..... be it a healthy snack or a cup of tea or whatever.....

[MummaSue]

It's not really about the food though, it's about the emotions behind it so it could start at any time. If you teach your kids that they get food when they are upset then they may continue that cycle throughout their lives. Same with rewarding kids with food, another big no-no.

Food is fuel. Nothing else.

Some people turn to addictions and other things to feed those emotions too though.

[BellyBelly]

Agree with MummaSue. Some people turn to drugs, alcohol, sex and others turn to food. Different drug of choice, but all an emotional problem that needs to be addressed underlying that.

[MrsFabuloso]

I think it can definately start in childhood. And I think if it does it's a much more difficult habbit to break because it's so ingrained. The problem with choosing food as your 'drug' of choice is that it's the only 'drug' we have to have. We can't live without food, but we can live without, say, alcohol. So someone can kick the habbit of alcohol cold turkey and not have any near them, but with food we have to eat to live so that's why it's so much more difficult.
My addiction started when I was young and left alone alot at home when my parents worked. I used to come home to an empty house and eat to do something, keep myself busy, try to stave off the lonliness. I do it all now. I can recognise it better nwo, but it makes it no easier to stop doing it at the moment.