Going back to school after the summer break is a transitional time for most students. Students spend summers in various ways such as working or doing an internship, resting up by the beach, traveling, and some students take classes for fun or necessity. Transitions usually create stress. For me, summer was a time to regroup, work a fun summer job, try to relax and get into shape for the school year but as I returned to school each fall semester I found stress levels raise quickly as the fall semester progressed. With my level of stress and anxiety rising so did my intake of food. I would order pizza or chicken wings after dinner regularly and I would make trips to the vending machine when I wasn't even hungry and sometime eat in secret. If I had an argument with my roommate I would reach for the Oreos. Food was my drug, food made me feel better until I got on the scale and gained the Junior 21. I was an emotional eater.
..Psychologists have long known that there is a connection between emotions and food. People use food to fill emptiness, provide good feelings, and soothe life's pressures and conflicts. Often eating has nothing to do with being hungry but Instead it is a response to anxiety or depression. This is known as emotional overeating which often leads to binge eating. Binge eating is a recognized eating disorder and is the most common eating disorder among college students. Binge eating typically results in individuals becoming overweight or obese. Binge eaters feel like they have no control over their behavior, sometimes eat in secret when they are not hungry and than feel shame and remorse over their behavior. According to the National Institute of Mental Health about one in five college age women report that they have had binge eating symptoms, and approximately 1 in 4 of college men binge eat. Binge eating can lead to such things as heart disease gallbladder problems, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, joint problems, and low self esteem. Not all binge eaters become overweight but the mental and physical dangers are still present. Binge eating can often lead to other eating disorder such Anorexia and Bulimia.
To prevent binge and emotional eating students need healthy outlets to release stress and emotions instead of eating them away. Some healthy outlets are talk therapy with a counselor, creative activities such as writing/drawing/painting, and keeping a balanced and safe exercise program. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress, develop self esteem and physical strength. Some other ways to prevent emotional/binge eating are taking a walk, calling a friend, setting up a time to relax, taking a break from school work to reconnect with yourself, deep breathing, and stopping procrastination of assignments and studying. Procrastinating puts students in "red alert," a crisis mode which causes great amounts of unneeded tension, stress, and anxiety. One of the most important tools in helping curb emotional eating is keeping a food journal. Writing down emotions before and after eating is a great way to get in touch with specific emotional triggers that cause binge eating. Food journals help one recognize feelings about why they are eating at the time they eat and helps one distinguish between real hunger and emotional eating. Most importantly, listening carefully to ones body is key in preventing binge eating. It is as simple as eating when hungry and finishing when full.
Attending or Creating an Over Eater Anonymous group on or near campus is a great way for students to get support and deal with their emotions and food.