How to stop your teen emotionally eating

Emotional eating happens when your teenager eats out of boredom or to deal with stress, anger and anxiety. While we all deal with certain situations and emotions in our own ways, eating an unhealthy diet or bingeing on junk food can play havoc with your child’s health.

1. Why do they do it?

It is important to understand that emotional eating doesn’t mean your teen has an eating disorder, although it can lead to one if it is not tackled head on.

 

Food can give your teen comfort and immediate satisfaction, which can help them feel better during stressful situations. It can also help to distract them from the task at hand, making a sandwich or going to the shop to buy crisps because they are struggling with a homework problem.

 

2. Why does it need to be stopped?

Apart from sending your child down a path of spiralling obesity, emotional eating can cause digestive problems, and lead to eating disorders as they learn to control their food. It can also make your teen feel depressed, unsatisfied in the long run and develop a lower self-esteem as the normally high calorie food starts to affects their skin and weight.

 

3. How can I help?

Teenagers are an unruly, unresponsive bunch and getting them to listen to you can be tricky. However, if you approach the topic in the right way you won’t come across as aggressive, judgemental or noisy – things that make your teen turn away from you.

 

 

4. What can I do?

Help your child recognise the difference between hunger pains and emotional hunger. While hunger pains stop when you have eaten, emotional hunger is more like a craving rather than a need.

 

First you have to identify the problem by monitoring your teen’s eating habits: Are the eating at odd times? Are they running to the cupboard when things start to heat up? Are they constantly staring into the fridge even after they’ve just eaten?

 

If they are reaching for the fridge when they are stressed, give them an alternative way to release tension.

• Encourage them to go for a walk – go with them if you want
• Give them a stress ball that they can squeeze when things feel too much
• Show them effective breathing techniques
• Help them make a playlist that will keep them calm when they are studying

What if they are eating out of boredom?

If your child is simply going to the fridge because they have nothing else to do, it’s time to fill their free time.

• Sign them up for a team sport
• Encourage them to volunteer
• Let them have friends over
• Look at their study schedule to see if their time could be more effectively used