Lifestyle coach shares 4 warning signs you’re emotional eating
Lifestyle coach shares 4 warning signs you’re emotional eating
Stress, loneliness and anxiety can shape what you eat, turning food into comfort rather than simple nourishment.
Namita S Kalla
August 26, 2026 / 12:37 IST
For someone feeling lonely, upset or constantly stressed, food can become more than nourishment. (Picture: Pexels)
- Emotional eating responds to stress, loneliness, anxiety.
- Signs include sudden hunger, specific cravings, no satisfaction.
- Control with meals, sleep, exercise, and a trusted ear.
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Do you often eat more when you’re stressed, sad, or overwhelmed? Emotional eating is often less about hunger and more about seeking a little comfort when life feels heavy. In conversation with Moneycontrol, Mitushi Ajmera, lifestyle coach and author, said emotional eating is a common response to stress, loneliness and anxiety. Ajmera explained that when stress lingers, the body produces cortisol, a hormone that can increase the desire for quick-energy foods
“When you are stressed, your body wants energy quickly, which can make sweets and junk food particularly tempting,” Ajmera said. The relief, however, is usually brief. Repeated often enough, reaching for food during difficult moments can quietly become a habit
For someone feeling lonely, upset or constantly stressed, food can become more than nourishment. It can become company, distraction or a small reward at the end of a difficult day. Anxiety can take people in opposite directions. Some eat more than usual, while others lose their appetite altogether. “Emotional stress can change eating patterns in different ways,” Ajmera explained
Also read: 6 traits of people who never post about their partner on social media, as per psychology
Ajmera shares 4 signs you’re emotional eating
Hunger pangs come unannounced
Physical hunger generally builds gradually, while emotional hunger can appear almost out of nowhere
You crave something specific
Emotional hunger often demands chocolate, crisps, takeaway food or another particular comfort food
Eating does not quite satisfy
Even after eating, the craving may continue because the real need was emotional comfort
Your mood drives your appetite
If food repeatedly appears after an argument, during loneliness or after a stressful day, emotions may be driving the appetite
Tips to control emotional eating
Ajmera recommends bringing some routine back to eating. Regular meals containing protein, fibre and healthy fats can help keep you fuller and reduce the urge to reach for quick comfort foods. Sleep and movement matter too. So does something that cannot be found in a food packet: a trusted person who listens. “Having someone you trust, who simply listens, can help you deal with difficult feelings without needing food to make you feel better,” Ajmera said
Also read: Try this ultimate soupy maggi recipe perfect for a rainy day evening
The important thing is not guilt. According to Ajmera, “Emotional eating is not a sign of weakness. It is often the body responding to stress in the easiest way it knows. Understanding the feeling before reaching for the food can be the first step towards changing the habit, and making peace with what healthy eating.”
Namita S Kalla is a senior journalist who writes about different aspects of modern life that include lifestyle, health, fashion, beauty, and entertainment.
first published: Aug 26, 2026 12:37 pm
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