emotional eating

[ ih-moh-shuh-nl ee-ting ]

noun

1. eating, often excessively, as a response to stress, boredom, unhappiness, or other emotional condition, rather than as a response to physical hunger: Compare comfort eating, stress eating ( def ).

   Prolonged loneliness can lead to a number of unhealthy habits, including emotional eating.

Word History and Origins

Origin of emotional eating¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

To stop emotional eating, do a gut-check before you reach for a snack.

From Washington Post

In her new series of work, Price explores emotional eating using herself as her subject.

From The Daily Beast