How to manage weight with stress and emotional eating?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been battling obesity for years and find that stress often triggers emotional eating, making it hard to lose weight. How can I break this cycle of stress and overeating? Are there weight management programs or therapies that focus on the psychological aspects of obesity as well as the physical?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

I know breaking this cycle of stress and emotional eating can feel tough, but trust me it is possible with the right approach.

You can break this cycle by following these simple effective tips,

Mindful Eating - Pay attention to your food, strictly no, television or phone.
Stress Management - Engage in yoga, journaling, deep breathing, or even walking. These can help you handle emotions without turning to food.
Find the Triggers - Ask yourself questions like when and why you eat and keep a record of that. If stress or boredom leads you to the fridge, replace that with something like listening to good music or calling a friend.
Healthy Snacks - Keep nutritious snacks handy so you are not reaching for chips or candy when cravings hit.
Therapist - Approach a therapist if the issue persists.
Engage yourself in weight loss programs or collaborate with groups that have healthy weight loss as their motto. Plan for basic health check-ups:

CBC (complete blood count).
TFT (thyroid function test).
LFT (liver function test).
RBS (random blood sugar).
Lipid profile.

To make sure every aspect that has control over weight and metabolism is normal.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.